Beware of fake police officers

A 70-year-old man was contacted several times by telephone a few days ago by a High German-speaking "policeman from Munich". He told him that his money was no longer safe in the safe-deposit box at the bank and that he should hand it over immediately. It would be collected from him later and taken to a safe place. The pensioner pretended to withdraw the money and informed the police.

A little later, a woman made a phone call, asking the pensioner to hand over the money to a man who would come by immediately. A short time later, the police officers at the residence of the 70-year-old found a suspect who was in the entrance of the property. When the police wanted to check him, he ran away, but could be arrested a little later. The alleged perpetrator is a 22-year-old Swiss national.

Clues to the general approach of the perpetrators

The perpetrators, a man or a woman who, according to the police, often speak High German, establish a connection with the potential victims via a fake phone number ("Call ID spoofing": This is a "theft" of someone else's phone number.). An official office number appears on the telephone display, such as that of a police station or a public authority. The scammers then tell you that the assets deposited in banks are no longer safe and that you should withdraw the money and take it home. Police officers or criminal investigators would then come to the place of residence and take custody of the cash, jewelry and other valuables and deposit them safely.

The perpetrators also contact their potential victims in other cantons with the request to bring the money personally to Basel for security reasons and to hand it over to a "police officer" there. People in Basel are also instructed to travel to another city in order to hand over the money there.

In addition, the Basel-Stadt public prosecutor's office stresses, people are also frightened by fake police officers because armed burglars are allegedly on their way to steal the money kept at their place of residence.

Notes from the public prosecutor's office

• The police do not ask to withdraw money from a bank or financial institution
• Similarly, the police do not ask people to take money or valuables to another canton for security reasons
• The police do not ask you to hand over your jewelry or other valuables
• If you have the slightest doubt as to whether they are genuine police officers, contact the Cantonal Police Operations Center immediately via the emergency number 117.
• Contact.

Recommendations of the prosecutor's office

• Be suspicious of unknown callers
• Do not give any information about your financial situation or about existing money, jewelry and valuables.
• Do not provide information about your age, marital status, occupation and state of health
• Do not disclose whether you live alone
• Do not allow strangers to enter your apartment or house
• Do not disclose credit card no., pin code, passwords and bank card no.
• If you are contacted by suspicious persons, immediately inform the police by calling the emergency number 117.

Source: Basel City Public Prosecutor's Office