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Fraudsters pose as police in Lower Saxony 'shock call' scam attempt

A brazen phone scam nearly fooled an elderly victim—until her family intervened. Here's how police stopped the fraudsters in their tracks.

The image shows an old advertisement for an emergency medical directory with a picture of a man in...
The image shows an old advertisement for an emergency medical directory with a picture of a man in the center surrounded by text. The man is wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck, and he is looking directly at the camera with a serious expression. The text on the advertisement reads "Emergency Medical Directory" in bold, black lettering.

Fraudsters pose as police in Lower Saxony 'shock call' scam attempt

Police in Lower Saxony have issued a warning about fraudulent 'shock calls' after an elderly woman in Salzgitter was targeted. Scammers posing as officers convinced her to leave money outside her home, though no cash was taken. Two men were later arrested in connection with the attempt. The incident began when the woman received a call from a man claiming to be a police officer. He told her a burglary had happened nearby and insisted her cash and valuables needed securing. Following his instructions, she placed her money outside her house.

The woman’s family quickly grew suspicious and contacted real officers. Police arrived at the scene and arrested two suspects—a 22-year-old from Sehnde and a 30-year-old from Hanover—near the property. No money was stolen during the attempt. Authorities stressed that genuine police will never ask for money or possessions to be handed over. They urged anyone receiving such calls to hang up at once and dial 110, Germany’s emergency number. Scammers frequently use fake break-in claims to pressure victims into compliance.

The arrests followed a swift response from the woman’s family and local officers. Police continue to investigate the case while reminding residents to stay vigilant. No financial loss was reported in this incident.

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