German police alert seniors to gold, fur purchase scams and fake police call fraud

Police in the Goslar district warned that advertisements promising unusually high purchase prices for furs and gold are often scams aimed at older citizens. The ads frequently cite limited‑time offers and use furs merely as a pretext to gain access to other valuables such as jewelry or cash. Investigations uncovered false contact details, lack of business registration, uncalibrated gold scales and house‑visit tactics to solicit additional items. Authorities advise seniors to sell only to authorised dealers, never negotiate alone, and to verify any contact information.

In Moosburg, detectives from the Oberbayern Nord police precinct are probing a separate fraud where impostors posing as police officers instructed a 70‑year‑old woman to deposit €15,000 behind two ashtrays, promising a refund after an alleged arrest. The money was never returned. Police reiterated warnings about “shock calls,” stressing that genuine officers never call from the emergency number 110 and urging victims to verify callers before obeying any financial instructions.