Grandchild swindlers employ cunning tactics to exploit grandparents
In the bustling city of Berlin, unexpected calls, texts, or messages can leap out of nowhere, spinning a tale of trouble involving friends or family that might require your immediate aid. But hold up, 'cause it ain't always what it seems – especially when the emergency suddenly centers around cash.
Today, con artists are coming up with crafty ways to bilk you, often demanding a "bail" to supposedly release a loved one from captivity. According to the General Prosecutor's Office in Berlin, if the word "bail" pops up in a conversation, consider it a red flag – it's likely a scam.
Even if you feel you're chatting with blood relatives or long-time pals, remain suspicious. Scoundrels have started using artificial intelligence to mimic human voices with impressively realistic deepfakes, aiding their shock or help calls. The Consumer Center Bremen cautions to be on the look-out for these sophisticated tricks.
Criminals always follow the same game plan: create fear, pressurize, and rush their targets into action. To keep fake grandkids at bay, crime prevention authorities offer some savvy tips:
- Never play the guessing game: Always ask callers to identify themselves. Don't give away vital family, personal, or financial details.
- Interrogate the caller: If someone claims to be a relative but seems a bit off, question them with queries only the genuine party would know.
- Resist the pressure: Don't let fear or panic steer your decisions. Take time to check the information and ask questions. If doubtful of the caller's identity, call back using a trusted number.
- Teamwork makes the dream work: Converse about the situation with relatives or close acquaintances before sending cash or valuables. Store valuable stuff in a safety deposit box instead of at home.
- Don't fall for phony police calls: Refrain from giving money or valuables to strangers, even if they claim to be part of the police. Gauge the legitimacy of the call first, and if suspicious, keep note of the number and inform the authorities at 110 immediately.
- Remember, reported crimes help: If you've been a victim of a grandparent scam, file a report with the police to help investigators detect patterns and catch the scammers.
Prepare yourself and others for potential crisis situations by adopting these four effortless practices:
- Agree on a safeword: Discuss a special code word with family members that only you share. If someone calls claiming to be family, ask for the safeword before responding.
- One name fits all: Opt out of the phonebook or shorten your first name in the phonebook to prevent scammers from accessing personal data. A change form can be found on crime prevention websites.
- Spread the word: Inform relatives and acquaintances of potential scams to help them remain vigilant.
- Block unwanted calls and report: Block numbers that constantly bother you on your smartphone and report them to the Federal Network Agency via email or online form. To enhance your privacy on WhatsApp, enable the “Mute calls from unknown numbers” setting under “Privacy.”
- Be cautious when receiving calls, texts, or messages, especially those involving cash, as they might be scams, such as the "grandparent scam" using deepfake technology.
- To avoid falling victim to such scams, implement safety measures like asking for identification, resisting pressure, and verifying information with trusted sources before sending money or valuables.
