These include a 21-year-old man from Landgraaf and two women from Heerlen aged 20 and 21.

Bank Account Hacked
On Monday afternoon, a resident of Kerkrade was called by a person pretending to be a bank employee. During an extensive phone conversation, this suspect managed to gain the victims trust and convinced them that their bank account had been hacked. The bank employee indicated that their bank cards and cash needed to be secured. Shortly thereafter, one of the female suspects picked up the items from the victim.

After investigation, the police arrested the three suspects later that evening.

Scammers Take Their Time
Scammers really take their time to win the trust of the intended victim. They call people and, for example, say that there has supposedly been a suspicious transaction, but that the bank will of course help the victim. Such a phone call can sometimes last for hours, during which the scammers manage to win peoples trust. For instance, by telling a story that burglars know 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 older neighbors that there are regularly scams happening. And that it is not rude at all to hang up or not let strangers in. Especially not if they feel that something is wrong. Advise them to call the police immediately in that case.

Prevention Tips
On the police website, there is a special theme page about scams, how to prevent them, and what to do if you unfortunately become a victim. This aims to make people more alert to the risks that can lead to theft through scams. Additionally, the page contains tips to help the elderly increase their own safety. The page can be found via this link: https://www.politie.nl/onderwerpen/babbeltruc.html