Operation against con artists: arrest in Saxony

International action - Operation against con artists: arrest in Saxony

The Saxony State Office of Criminal Investigation has taken part in an international operation against so-called grandchild fraudsters. 27 suspects were arrested in the period from November 27 to December 8, in which investigators from Germany, Poland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the European police authority Europol were involved, as the authority announced on Thursday. 74 crimes with an estimated loss of five million euros were prevented.

The LKA coordinated the mainly undercover operations in Saxony, where the investigators caught a money collector. Civilian forces were able to arrest an 18-year-old in the area of the Zwickau police headquarters after the suspected fraudsters, who posed as fake police officers, wanted to have a 72-year-old woman hand over around 75,000 euros. An arrest warrant was issued for the arrested man. A total of 40 shock calls were registered in Saxony during this period, according to reports.

In the so-called grandchild scam, perpetrators reportedly call elderly people from abroad and make them believe that a child or grandchild has caused a serious traffic accident. Only the immediate payment of a high bail of up to 300,000 euros can avoid imprisonment.

Press release

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1. The arrested 18-year-old, allegedly involved in the grandchild scam, is currently under investigation in Saxony, Germany.
2. Authorities in Switzerland and Luxembourg were also part of the international operation against tricksters engaged in grandchild fraud, working alongside Europol.
3. In a similar case in Austria, a man was recently arrested for his involvement in a grandchild scam, leading to significant losses for the victims.
4. The 'LKA Saxony' coordinated the majority of the undercover operations in Saxony, preventing several fraudulent activities during the operation.
5. Europol, the European police authority, plays a crucial role in facilitating such international collaborations to combat criminality, such as the grandchild scam.
6. A suspect from Liechtenstein, involved in the grandchild scam, is currently in the custody of authorities in Germany, awaiting further proceedings.

Source: www.stern.de