Earlier that afternoon, the woman had already received a call from someone pretending to be an officer asking about valuable belongings. She didnt trust it and called the police. At that moment, however, no one was found nearby. When the so-called officers later that afternoon showed up at her door, the vigilant woman called 112 again. The police arrived on the scene immediately and were able to arrest the two individuals. They are an 18-year-old man from Biddinghuizen and a minor from Zwolle.
Scams
The police receive reports almost daily about fake officers. They contact victims either by phone or at the door with a story about possible (burglary) risks at the victims address. Valuable belongings must then be secured as quickly as possible. These are obviously not officers, but criminals. You wouldnt fall for that, would you? Certainly! Daily, fake officers make victims, and the damage can sometimes amount to thousands of euros. The criminals are often well-prepared and have a lot of information about their victim. This can make it seem like it is really the police. Sometimes they even wear (part of the) uniform.
More Tricks
In addition to fake officers, there are more tricks that criminals use to try to obtain money or valuable belongings from victims. They might pose as supposed employees of the bank, an employee of the energy company, or a care worker. Scammers misuse the names of companies or agencies that victims trust. Regularly with success.
Hang Up and Don’t Let Anyone In
The most important tip is to always check if the story is true first. Are you approached unexpectedly or without reason? Hang up and certainly don’t let anyone in. Call the known number of the respective agency or company that the person claims to work for to find out if the story is indeed true. In the case of the police, the phone number is 0900- 8844. It will often turn out that you are dealing with scammers. The police ask people who do become victims to always file a report. More information and tips can be found at www.politie.nl/babbeltrucs.
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