83-Year-Old Tricked Out of Savings by 'Shock Call' - Elderly Bochum Man Loses Life Savings in Shocking Phone Scam
An 83-year-old man in Bochum lost money to a sophisticated scam last Friday. The fraudsters posed as police, lawyers, and even used a taxi to trick him into handing over cash. Authorities are now searching for witnesses who may have seen the suspect.
The incident began around midday on Friday, 17 January 2026, in the Leithe district. The victim received a 'shock call'—a fake emergency phone call—claiming his son had caused a deadly traffic accident. A woman pretending to be a lawyer then contacted him, asking about his assets and instructing him to withdraw money to pay bail.
The scammers told the man his son would face pretrial detention unless he acted immediately. Following their demands, he took a taxi to his bank and withdrew the cash. Later, an unknown man arrived at his home to collect the money before fleeing on foot. Witnesses described the suspect as slim, dressed in dark clothing, and wearing a black cap. Police are urging anyone who saw him in the area to come forward with information.
The victim was targeted through a coordinated scheme involving fake officials and staged urgency. Investigators are piecing together the events to track down those responsible. Anyone with details about the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to contact the police.
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