On that day, the man posed as a technician from an internet/television company and, after making phone contact with the victim, claimed he would remove some viruses from her device at her home. During these actions that took place in the victims home, the man secretly transferred a large sum of money from the victim. The woman noticed she had been defrauded after the man left. She immediately called the police. Officers were able to arrest the 22-year-old suspect in Almere the same day.
Scammers Take Their Time
Scammers really take their time to gain the trust of the intended victim. They call people and, for example, say there was an alleged suspicious transaction, but that the bank will of course help the victim. Such a phone call can sometimes last for hours, during which scammers gain the trust of people. With stories such as burglars knowing where someone lives, they try to scare the victim.
Warn the Elderly
Everyone can help make it as difficult as possible for scammers. Tell your parents, grandparents, or elderly neighbors that there are regular phone scams. And that it is not rude at all to hang up or not let strangers in. Especially if they feel something is wrong. Advise them to call the police immediately in such cases.
#photo is a stock photo
Prevention Tips
The police website has a special theme page about phone scams, how to prevent them, and what to do if you become a victim. The police want to raise awareness of the risks that can lead to theft via phone scams. The page also contains tips to help the elderly improve their own safety. The page can be found at this link: https://www.politie.nl/onderwerpen/babbeltruc.html
