SPD leaders disclose data on alleged fraudulent activities
On April 19th, at 11 am, an important information event titled "Dangers on the Phone" will take place in the rooms of Café "Jahreszeiten," An der Guten Hoffnung 8, in Sterkrade. This event is jointly hosted by AG 60 Plus and the SPD city council fraction of Oberhausen SPD, and will be attended by Criminal Chief Commissioner Jenny Verhoefen.
Commissioner Verhoefen, representing the Police's Crime Prevention and Victim Protection Department of Oberhausen, will be speaking at the event. She will discuss various tactics used by con artists to target older people, with a focus on common phone scams. Among the topics to be covered are the "grandparent scam," shock calls, and posing as fake officials.
The "grandparent scam" typically involves a caller pretending to be a distressed grandchild (or other relative) who urgently needs money for an emergency, such as bail or medical treatment. Shock calls or imposter scams impersonate trusted entities like government officials, banks, Medicare representatives, or tech support, creating fear and urgency to trick seniors into handing over personal information or money.
Other common scams targeting seniors by phone include Medicare and health care scams, sweepstakes, lottery, or charity scams, and tech support scams.
To empower attendees to recognize these common tricks used by con artists, the event aims to provide valuable tips on recognition and avoidance. Some key tips include:
- Do not answer or engage with unknown numbers, and never share personal or financial information over the phone unless you have verified the caller independently.
- Be skeptical of urgent or threatening language and offers that sound “too good to be true.”
- Verify caller identity by hanging up and calling back using official contact information from trusted sources.
- Use call blocking technology and report suspicious calls to authorities or consumer protection agencies.
- Stay updated on current scam tactics through trusted news or government sources.
Registration for the event is required, either by email at [email protected] or by phone at 0208/825-3460. Admission to the event is free for all guests.
Let's come together to help seniors avoid falling for these tricks and stay safe from phone scams. Join us on April 19th at Café "Jahreszeiten" to learn more about recognizing and avoiding common phone scams.
[1] https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0291-seniors-and-scams [2] https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds [3] https://www.ic3.gov/media/2021/210317.aspx [4] https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0291-seniors-and-scams [5] https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/seniors-lose-billions-to-scams-each-year-082619.html
- At the "Dangers on the Phone" event on April 19th, Commissioner Verhoefen, representing the Crime Prevention and Victim Protection Department, will discuss various health-and-wellness relatedissues, such as phone scams and how they impact the general-news landscape, specifically focusing on the criminal tactics aimed at elderly individuals.
- The upcoming event "Dangers on the Phone" at Café "Jahreszeiten," in Sterkrade, will highlight recent developments in crime-and-justice, namely, an increase in phone scams targeting seniors, providing valuable tips and resources for health-and-wellness and safety, including measures such as call blocking technology and staying informed through trusted news sources.
