Fake Officer Falls into His Own Trap

Gebied: Veenendaal

On the evening of February 18, a 22-year-old man from Rotterdam thought he could quickly make a profit by pretending to be an officer over the phone and scamming people. He couldnt have been more unlucky: the fake officer got a real officer on the phone and was in turn deceived.

Fake Officer Gets Caught

At around 9:00 PM, a police colleague called the emergency services. He mentioned that his father, who also works as an officer, had already been called twice by a so-called fake officer. The scammer called him with the familiar script to get the victim to prepare jewelry and valuables, so he could pick them up at the door. However, things took an unexpected turn for the scammer. He did not realize that he had accidentally called a real police officer, whose son is also an officer.

Double Act

Father and son officers saw through the scammers stories. They decided to cooperate in the act and create a catching moment. The father pretended to be an innocent and cooperative old man, while the son called the emergency services to get a police car to the address as soon as possible. An appointment was made with the scammer to collect the valuables at the address in Veenendaal. The fake officer had no idea he was falling into his own trap and went to the address. Before a police car arrived, the suspect was already at the door. He was overpowered and arrested by the father and son.

Thanks to the vigilance of the two officers, the 22-year-old scammer from Rotterdam was apprehended. The fake officer must answer for his actions. His phone has been confiscated for further investigation. The Rotterdammers home was searched, where the police found receipts for expensive goods and several thousand euros in cash. This has been seized. The police do not rule out multiple arrests.

What Can You Do Against Fake Officers?

Fake officers are scammers who impersonate someone from the police. The perpetrators often call (especially older) people and pretend to be an officer. Hang up immediately if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the police who asks about valuables such as jewelry or bank details. Call the police at 0900-8844. If the scammer says someone is coming to the door, or if someone is at the door? Call the police immediately at 112!