Deceived at the final moment
On a fateful morning on September 16th, two elderly women in Cologne and Leverkusen narrowly avoided becoming victims of scams that could have cost them their savings.
In Cologne-Klettenberg and Cologne-Mülheim, the scammers struck at around 10 AM, targeting two unsuspecting women. In one instance, an unknown woman claiming to be a hospital employee called, stating that the woman's son had been involved in a fatal traffic accident. The scammer demanded a sum of 10,000 euros in cash, but the scam was thwarted when the son coincidentally called his mother during the call.
Meanwhile, in Leverkusen-Wiesdorf, three men posing as water damage inspectors gained access to an 87-year-old's home. After securing the safe's code, they made off with unnoticed jewelry theft. Thankfully, no money or valuables were lost.
To combat such incidents and educate the elderly and their relatives on preventive behaviour, the theater group "Theater Trier" performed the play "Trickst und Betrogen" (Tricked and Ripped Off) in Cologne. The play humorously and self-ironically reenacts current situations based on real cases, sensitizing older citizens to the dangers lurking in everyday life.
The play, which features actors taking on the roles of tricksters and older people, aims to raise awareness and equip the audience with the tools to avoid falling victim to such scams. For more information about the play and tips on household burglary, visit this link and this link.
The Cologne police are also available for tips regarding the scams. They can be contacted at 0221 229-0 or by email at [email protected]. As of now, no arrests have been reported in connection with these scams.
Stay vigilant and remember, it's better to be safe than sorry.
