Freudenstadt Gold Scam by Fake Police Leaves Senior Defrauded of €52,000

An elderly man in the Dietersweiler district of Freudenstadt was duped by telephone scammers who pretended to be police officers. The callers first contacted the victim in 2024 and, after a long pause, resumed the scheme in early July 2026. They claimed the man's son was seriously ill and needed expensive medication, pressuring him to purchase gold and leave it for collection. On 6 July 2026, the victim placed gold worth roughly €52,000 on his property in Langenbergstraße for a hand‑over. An unknown individual later removed the gold.

Police describe the suspected collector as a male about 170 cm tall, dark‑haired, wearing a light shirt and chinos, and speaking fluent German. An e‑scooter rider matching this description was seen repeatedly near the scene, but no link has been established. The Calw criminal police have taken over the investigation and are urging witnesses to contact the Pforzheim crime service. The force also warned that genuine police never ask for money or valuables over the phone.