Fake police officers swindle 84-year-old out of 30,000 euros

An 84-year-old woman from the Pongau region was tricked into handing over cash and jewellery worth about 30,000 euros to people posing as police officers, ORF reports.

The callers told the woman that burglaries had increased in her area and that she needed to secure her valuables. They said police would collect the items and keep them safe. The woman placed the valuables in a container outside her home, where the impostors picked it up. The valuables and suspects have not been traced.

Police said there had been more attempts to use this scam in the Pongau in recent days. The callers often target older people, exploiting their trust in police and fear of becoming victims. They may also manipulate caller ID to make a call appear genuine.

Police advise people to be wary of unknown callers, question their claims and contact relatives who are said to be at risk. They should not disclose details about their finances and should ask purported officers to show identification. Anyone who doubts a caller is a genuine police officer should call the emergency number 133. Victims should contact police and file a report immediately.