Bank teller stops €25,000 romance scam targeting elderly woman
A 71-year-old woman narrowly avoided losing €25,000 after a bank teller intervened during a suspicious withdrawal. The incident, which took place on May 12, 2026, has since triggered a police investigation into an alleged romance scam. The woman had been in contact with an unknown individual online for nearly a year. The person claimed to have romantic feelings for her but repeatedly asked for money. Over time, she sent around €100,000 in multiple payments to an address in North Rhine-Westphalia.
On the day of the attempted withdrawal, the bank teller noticed her behaviour seemed unusual. Suspecting something was wrong, they blocked the €25,000 transaction and immediately alerted the authorities.
Police have since classified the case as romance fraud. Investigations are ongoing to trace the scammer and recover any lost funds. The woman’s attempted withdrawal was stopped before the money could be handed over. Authorities are now working to identify those responsible for the fraud. The case highlights the risks of online scams targeting vulnerable individuals.
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