Man accused of collecting money in shock-call scam trial

A 25-year-old man went on trial at Munich Regional Court on Monday, accused of acting as a money and valuables collector for a fraud gang that allegedly tried to steal about 37,000 euros through four shock-call scams. BR reports that eight other suspected accomplices have not been identified.

Prosecutors say the Serbian-born defendant collected money from victims. In January, he allegedly took about 17,000 euros from an older woman in Holzkirchen, in Miesbach district, after a caller posing as a police officer claimed her granddaughter had caused a fatal traffic accident.

That month, he is also accused of collecting 20,000 euros from a woman in Icking, in Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district, who had reportedly received a call from someone posing as a judge.

In Frontenhausen, in Dingolfing-Landau district, a woman was reportedly about to hand over 78,000 euros when a neighbour noticed what was happening and threatened to call police. The accused allegedly fled. In another case in Mittenwald, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen district, a man handed him an empty backpack instead of money.

Four days have been set aside for the trial. A verdict is expected on October 23.