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Con artists in Bremen: Two senior citizens cheated out of jewelry and money!
In Bremen North, two senior women fell victim to con artists who posed as water workers. Police warn of scams.
Con artists in Bremen: Two senior citizens cheated out of jewelry and money!
In the last few days there have been increasing reports of brazen con artists targeting older people in Bremen North. On Monday, June 16, there were several incidents in which unknown people posed as water workers in order to get into the homes of unsuspecting seniors. According to that Weser courier Two men rang the doorbell of a 75-year-old and a 93-year-old on Rotdornallee in Lesum around 10:30 a.m. The scammers claimed to have to check the plumbing, which had only one purpose: to steal jewelry from the apartment. Just half an hour later, the perpetrators struck again on Albrecht-Roth-Strasse in Vegesack and stole jewelry and cash from an 80-year-old and a 74-year-old.
The police describe the perpetrators as around 40 to 45 years old and of a similar height of around 1.70 meters. The first perpetrator had short blonde-gray hair and a full beard, while the second had no beard but was also short-haired and dark-maned. What was noticeable were the tattoos on both men's forearms, which could possibly help with identification. The Bremen police urge you to only allow designated tradesmen into the apartment and to contact the police immediately on 110 if fraud is suspected.
The trick fraud in Bremen
The public utility trick is one of the most common scams used against older people. According to an analysis by spot-bremen In 2023 alone, there were 378 completed and 418 attempted crimes in Bremen to the detriment of older people. This number is worrying, even if it has been trending downward since 2019. However, the majority of attempted fraud cases fail, demonstrating the importance of vigilance and information.
The scam has many faces: Fake police officers who call on the phone pretending to be involved in personal matters, or shock calls pretending to be relatives and demanding money. The risk of falling victim to such schemes increases, especially for older people, when cognitive or physical performance declines. It is crucial that seniors are informed about common scams.
Protective measures for seniors
Experts recommend that older people act proactively to protect themselves from such scammers. This means not allowing anyone you don't know into your home and if you receive suspicious calls, hang up immediately or call the police. Another important point is to keep money in the bank and maintain social contacts to avoid isolation and vulnerability.
The Bremen police offer their prevention center buten and within and the SÄM project, a theater group that raises awareness about fraud, provides comprehensive information for seniors. We call on you to quickly file a criminal complaint if fraud is suspected, because there is no blame for the victims of these cold-blooded machinations.