Fake police officer defrauds 84-year-old of cash and gold

An 84-year-old woman in Vienna’s Floridsdorf district handed cash and gold to a man posing as a police officer, suffering a loss in the low six figures, police said Thursday. ORF reported that the incident happened on Wednesday.

The man first called the woman and claimed a woman had been arrested after making a fraudulent cash withdrawal at a bank using the 84-year-old’s identity. He told her that, as an important witness, she needed to hand over her cash and valuables temporarily so a police employee could “scan” them.

The fraudster later arrived alone at the woman’s home, where she gave him the money and gold.

Vienna police warned that scammers posing as officers repeatedly target older people. They may claim over the phone that someone is at risk from burglars and that police will collect valuables for safekeeping. Police do not ask people to hand over valuables for safekeeping. Anyone receiving a suspicious call should end it and dial 133.