2023-12-07 12:05:57
Fraudsters sent a 73-year-old Viennese woman to 13 different branches of a bank to get her victim’s savings. The woman was traveling almost throughout the entire city. According to police spokesman Markus Dittrich, the criminals had instructed her to always withdraw amounts of just under 10,000 euros – apparently so that the transactions would not set off alarm bells at the financial institution. In the end there was damage in the mid six-figure range.
On October 25, an alleged bank employee called the 73-year-old and told her that someone with a fake ID had tried to withdraw money from her account. Bank employees were also involved in the fraud, so the woman was supposed to collect her valuables and cash from the bank and hand them over to a police officer. She was also given a list of which bank branches she should visit. Until October 27th, she was repeatedly contacted by alleged employees of the financial institution. At her branch in Währing, she first looted her safe, which contained, among other things, gold bars.
She then drove to other branches of her bank across Vienna – including across the Danube to Floridsdorf and Donaustadt, where she withdrew more money. A fake police officer may have followed her or accompanied her. In any case, following each transaction she was asked to go to a discreet side alley to hand over the valuables to the alleged officer. It was only at the end of her tour that the 73-year-old became suspicious.
Together with real police investigators, she created a ghost image of the alleged colleague, which was published on Thursday. The fraudster was described as being around 45 years old and of broad build. He was also wearing a black cap, among other things. Any relevant information (also anonymous) was requested from the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, investigation service, on telephone number 01-31310 ext. 33800.
The police gave some tips for such cases:
– Neither the police nor banks act in the manner described!
– End the phone call!
– The police generally do not accept or keep cash or valuables for you!
– Be careful when a caller asks you for valuables, cash or bank balances. In this case, end the conversation immediately!
– Educate your relatives regarding this form of fraud.
– Talk to your closest family regarding this approach.
– Designate alternative contacts for your relatives to contact if you cannot be reached immediately.
– As soon as you notice that the person calling is asking you for money, end the conversation!
– Write down the number of the caller.
– Contact the nearest police station and file a report.
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