# Telephone and digital fraud surge in Germany and Europe > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/telephone-fraud-surge-in-germany > Updated: 2026-10-20T13:45:06.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 5. German police have issued warnings regarding a surge in sophisticated telephone fraud and “shock calls” targeting elderly citizens. Scammers have employed various tactics, such as impersonating doctors to demand money for medical treatments or posing as bank employees to access online accounts. A common method involves criminals impersonating relatives or police officers to claim a family member was involved in a fatal accident. In the Saarlouis and St. Wendel districts, these tactics resulted in the theft of over 80,000 euros from three men. In Celle, a 76-year-old woman lost 70,000 euros under similar pretenses. On October 6, 2026, a senior in Alsdorf-Mariadorf lost a mid-five-figure sum of cash after a caller claimed her son had caused a fatal traffic accident. On October 8, 2026, reports indicated an expansion into digital fraud. In Munich, a “Business Email Compromise” scam targeted a couple during a real estate transaction; criminals intercepted emails and manipulated bank details, resulting in the loss of over one million euros via instant transfer. On October 12, 2026, authorities in Switzerland and Italy reported similar surges. In the Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, approximately 130 successful fraud attempts resulted in losses of nearly 800,000 francs, with criminals increasingly using digital messages to initiate contact. In Italy, the Guardia di Finanza thwarted a scam in Avellino where fraudsters posing as Carabinieri officers attempted to separate a couple to steal cash and jewelry. In Buttrio, Italy, two individuals posing as law enforcement were arrested after stealing 60,000 euros worth of jewelry and cash from a woman. On October 16, 2026, German police investigated two more incidents targeting elderly women. In Gelsenkirchen, a 90-year-old woman was deceived by callers claiming her daughter had been in a serious accident, leading to the loss of cash and jewelry. ## Claims - Since the beginning of 2026, there have been approximately 750 reported fraud attempts in the Canton of Fribourg. (single source) - 130 successful fraud cases resulted in a total loss of nearly 800,000 francs in 2026. (single source) - Fraudsters are increasingly contacting victims via message or email rather than just by telephone. (single source) - A 24-year-old suspect was apprehended in Bulle for acting as a courier in a bank fraud case. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-20: Police in Vorarlberg and Tyrol warn of telephone scam Police in Vorarlberg and Tyrol are warning residents about fraudulent ‘shock calls’ where scammers impersonate doctors or police to demand bail or money for medical emergencies. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-in-vorarlberg-and-tyrol-warn-of-telephone-scam ### 2026-10-17: Germany police investigate telephone scams targeting elderly women Police in Germany are investigating two cases of telephone fraud where elderly women were deceived into handing over cash and valuables by scammers posing as relatives or law enforcement officials. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-police-investigate-telephone-scams-targeting-elderly-women ### 2026-10-12: Switzerland and Italy report surge in impersonation fraud Police in Switzerland and Italy are battling rising fraud waves, including bank impersonation in Fribourg and law enforcement impersonation scams in Avellino and Buttrio. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-in-germany-warn-of-crimes-targeting-elderly-residents ### 2026-10-08: Fraudulent schemes target seniors and real estate buyers in Europe Police in Germany, Italy, and Austria report rising fraud cases, including a 1.1 million euro real estate scam in Munich and various phishing and 'shock call' schemes targeting seniors. 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/alsdorf-senior-loses-mid-five-figure-sum-to-shock-call-scam ### 2026-10-02: Germany police warn of surge in telephone fraud and shock calls Police in Germany are warning of a wave of telephone fraud and “shock calls,” where scammers impersonate police or relatives to steal tens of thousands of euros from elderly victims. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-police-warn-of-rising-whatsapp-and-telephone-fraud-schemes --- Cite as: Telephone and digital fraud surge in Germany and Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/telephone-fraud-surge-in-germany