Fake police officer steals valuables worth six figures

An 88-year-old man in Vienna’s Döbling district lost jewellery and gold coins worth a six-figure sum to a fraudster posing as a police officer on Wednesday, ORF reported.

The caller told the pensioner that there were new developments in a complaint he had filed some time earlier. He claimed a group of criminals had been arrested and that the pensioner’s contact details had been found on one suspect.

The caller then said the man’s valuables needed to be temporarily secured and registered to protect them from a planned robbery. About 30 minutes later, another man arrived at the pensioner’s home and presented what appeared to be a police identification card. He packed up numerous pieces of jewellery and gold coins and left.

Police said the loss was worth a six-figure sum. They reiterated that genuine officers never ask people by telephone to hand over cash, jewellery or other valuables.