Freistadt police warn of telephone impersonation scams

On August 27, 2026, residents in the Freistadt district of Austria, particularly in the municipalities of Königswiesen and Unterweißenbach, were targeted by a telephone fraud scheme. Starting around 1:00 PM, an unknown caller identifying himself as ‘Ralf Maier’ from the Freistadt Police Department contacted numerous citizens, primarily elderly women.

The perpetrator claimed that several burglaries had occurred in the area, stating that while some suspects had been apprehended and weapons seized, others remained at large. The goal of the calls appeared to be instilling fear in the victims. In several instances, residents contacted local police stations to report the suspicious activity.

Police officers visited affected individuals to provide reassurance and preventative advice. Authorities have issued an urgent warning, noting that legitimate police officers, doctors, or prosecutors will never demand bail payments or the handover of cash or gold over the phone. Citizens are advised to terminate suspicious calls immediately and never disclose information regarding bank accounts, valuables, or personal data.