Senior citizens cheated out of money - Gang of telephone fraudsters: high-ranking member in custody
A presumably high-ranking member of a gang specialized in making shock calls has been apprehended by the police in Spain. The 28-year-old has been handed over to Germany and is currently in custody, according to the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Office in Stuttgart. He was being sought after Europe-wide.
Alleged gang leader arrested in England
In June of last year, investigators from Baden-Württemberg and abroad had dismantled the gang, which had specialized in the increasingly popular scam.
At the time, several residences were searched in Frankfurt am Main, in the North Rhine-Westphalian cities of Neuss, Kaarst and Haan, and in Great Britain. The Landeskriminalamt had announced this a year ago.
The alleged head of the gang was arrested in the Greater London area at the time. He had already been sought after by Polish law enforcement agencies.
Damages totaled five million Euros
The gang is said to have caused damages of around five million Euros in more than 120 cases in Germany alone, according to earlier reports.
The group primarily targeted older people, deceiving them over the phone with lies, and making them believe that a close relative had caused a serious accident with injuries or fatalities. To avoid arrest, money or valuables were supposed to be given as supposed bail money to a courier.
- The apprehended individual in Spain is believed to have connections to the gang operating in Germany, which was dismantled with the assistance of international forces, including those from Baden-Württemberg and England.
- The police in Baden-Württemberg have been working closely with their counterparts in England to track down the members of this crime syndicate, following their initial arrest in England of the alleged gang leader.
- The intimidating tactics used by this organization, which include making "shock calls" to unsuspecting seniors in Germany, are a prime example of the cross-border nature of modern criminal activities.
- Witnessing a significant reduction in crime since the arrest of the gang leader, the residents of Stuttgart can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that their elderly loved ones are less likely to be targeted by these scammers.
- As Germany continues to collaborate with its European partners in the fight against organized crime, it is hoped that more dangerous individuals will be brought to justice, ensuring a safer future for all citizens of Europe.
