Safe in everyday life: Lecture on Internet and grandchildren trick fraud in Celle

Safe in everyday life: Lecture on Internet and grandchildren trick fraud in Celle

In the recent years, internet crime has increased steadily in Germany. The trend shows that both industrial companies and private households are increasingly affected. In Celle, for example, around 35 ads with the police daily, which reflects a worrying trend. Most of the time, such criminal cases not only cause financial damage, but also psychological stress for the victims. This illustrates the relevance of preventive measures against such dangers.

On this topic, Cosima Bauer, the Commissioner for Crime Prevention by the Celle police inspection, gives a lecture in the Kulturstreff special in the old pottery. The event will take place on June 19, and admission begins at 7:00 p.m. From 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., interested solutions and information about internet crime as well as everyday dangers, such as grandchildren trick or shock calls, can expect. Admission is free to donate for the association "Kulturstreff in the Land e.V." However, are welcome. Registrations are possible by email or by phone.

a general problem

The challenges from grandchildren trick and shock calls are not only locally, but also internationally. It is estimated that older people in Germany lost hundreds of thousands of euros last year through these fraudulent methods. Fraud groups use invented stories to put pressure on their victims. The German police have therefore recognized the need to bring international support in the fight against this form of crime. A conference organized by the Berlin State Criminal Police Office (LKA) recently took place in Teltow (Brandenburg), in which prosecutors and criminal police officers from different countries came together to develop joint strategies.

The figures show the extent of the problem: Last year, 6,656 cases of grandchildren trick fraud were reported in Germany, of which only 1,527 could be clarified. In addition, there were almost 1,100 suspected and several thousand cases of false police officers or officials. The total damage amounts to several million euros, although the number of unreported cases is probably even higher. Older people are often targeted victims, since they often live alone and the fraudsters are addressed very specifically.

international cooperation

In Germany, the cooperation between the different federal states is now working well. Especially in an international context, it can be seen that the pressure on the perpetrators, who often act from Eastern European countries, is larger. Thanks to cross -border investigations, many gangs could be smashed, which is why, for example, in Berlin a decline in the actions by 50 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year.

The current conference was part of an EU-funded project that deals with combating the cross-border organized crime. A total of about 25 countries are affected, and it is becoming increasingly clear that perpetrators are not only acting from Germany, but Dinteran form a widely linked structure of organized family groups. Money, power and luxury are the main motivations of these perpetrators, and it is obvious that this crime in the families concerned is often passed on from generation to generation.