Crooks posing as law enforcement officials have swindled money and valuables from their victims.

In a chilling incident that occurred on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 PM, an elderly resident from Gladbeck was targeted by a scammer. The perpetrator, described as a male, approximately 30 years old, stocky, around 1.80 meters tall, with short black hair, and wearing a white top, visited the residence in the early evening.

The scammer called the victim, falsely claiming that their son was involved in a car accident in Recklinghausen and was being held in investigative custody. To secure their son's release, the caller demanded bail, which included cash and jewelry.

It is important to note that the police have not been involved in the collection of bail in this reported incident. The police rely on the cooperation of citizens in the fight against these perpetrators.

This incident serves as a reminder of the prevalence of scammers targeting elderly individuals with shock calls and deceitful conversations. Nationwide, there are repeated fraud attempts targeting the elderly, and it is essential to raise awareness about various scam tricks used by fraudsters (shock call, grandparent scam, etc.).

The police encourage citizens to talk to their relatives about these scams and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities. The police headquarters in Recklinghausen has provided a contact number (0800 2361 111) for citizens to report fraud attempts.

The "Next Generation" project, which aims to protect senior citizens, also contributes to this fight. For more information about the project, visit the provided link.

For media inquiries, contact Andreas Lesch at the Police Headquarters Recklinghausen (02361 55 1031 or [email protected]). The news can also be found on their official channels.

The police urge everyone to stay vigilant and to never provide personal or financial information to unknown callers. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a scam, report it to the police immediately.