Germany: 90-year-old man loses 450,000 euros to phone scammer

A 90-year-old man in the German province of Hessen lost over 450,000 euros to a telephone scammer posing as a police officer. The perpetrator contacted the elderly man, claiming a relative had caused a fatal traffic accident and that only a cash guarantee could prevent an arrest.

Under pressure, the victim handed over coins, gold bars, and cash to an unknown courier. The fraud was discovered after the man confided in a neighbor, who immediately alerted the authorities. Police investigations are ongoing, noting that the total value of the stolen assets is estimated to exceed 450,000 euros.

Authorities report an increase in cases across Germany where scammers impersonate police officers using 'shock calls.' Official data indicates that telephone scammers have acquired approximately 49.5 million euros in Germany during 2025. Police advise citizens that legitimate officers will never request valuables or money over the phone.