Rösratherin saves 40,000 euros: fraud attempt fails at the last minute!

Rösratherin saves 40,000 euros: fraud attempt fails at the last minute!

The life of 86-year-old Helga Bordacchini from Rösrath took a dramatic turn when she fell victim to a perfidious attempt at fraud. The old lady received a call from a man pretending to be a police officer, claiming that her son was involved in a serious traffic accident in which a child was injured. On high alert and believing she had to help her son, Bordacchini set off with 40,000 euros in cash to hand over the money. “There’s something going on,” she thought and followed the caller’s instructions, who also urged her to give her cell phone number and not hang up. “The child under observation has only a 30 percent chance of survival,” he said, which only added to their concern.

The caller then instructed her to hand over the money to a law firm with the name Meier. As she waited in the car, she became increasingly panicked and disoriented. A second call from another law firm, Johnson, finally aroused her suspicions. The whole situation was so surreal that she began to have doubts. Bordacchini decided to contact her son, who was quickly able to give the all-clear: “No accident occurred,” he sent her over the phone. He informed the police, but they were unable to help immediately.

What do such scammers do?

As NDR reports, fraudsters often target seniors because they often take advantage of loneliness and willingness to help. The so-called grandchild trick and shock calls are among the most common methods. The criminals pose as relatives and describe emergency situations in order to get money. Even a call from a supposedly trustworthy number can be a scam. The police make it clear that they never demand money or valuables from citizens.

It is important to hang up immediately if you suspect something and not to reveal any personal information. The German Consumer Center recommends consulting with the family at any time and gaining security by asking. Awareness about various scams is particularly important, especially for older people who are more susceptible to such tricks.

Raising awareness and prevention

To counteract this danger, the police offers informative measures. A 72-page brochure specifically for older people addresses various forms of crime that affect the older generation and gives valuable tips on protection. The dangers mentioned include not only telephone fraud and fake police officers, but also special risks at the front door, for example from con artists or when driving to coffee, where overpriced products are sold.

With her quick reaction, Helga Bordacchini may have prevented something worse from happening and is now campaigning to raise awareness about fraud. “It’s important that we talk about it and inform our older citizens,” she says. Your experience could help others avoid falling into the same traps that frighten so many people.