Provincial Police Headquarters:
We are increasingly hearing about very positive reactions from seniors to attempts to defraud them by people impersonating employees of state institutions or family members. Older people have become more vigilant and know how to react, which is very encouraging.
Unfortunately, this type of fraud is still occurring. Police officers say: “Let us remember that the principle of limited trust toward strangers applies not only to children. Adults often forget about it, becoming victims of their own gullibility and lack of caution. Unexpected calls from people claiming to be police officers, lawyers, employees of state institutions, long-unseen grandchildren, nieces or cousins do not have to end in financial defeat for us.
What should we remember so that we do not get defrauded?
- A police officer will never call to inform you about an ongoing operation
- The police will never ask you to give money to someone, transfer it to an account or leave it somewhere
- If we have any doubts about the details of someone calling us or claiming to be an employee of an institution, let us verify them. Let us report such situations to the police and consult our family
- Let us remember not to be persuaded to leave our money in an isolated place; not to throw it out of a window or leave it at a location indicated by the scammer
- Let us not share codes, passwords or our bank account details with anyone whose identity we are not certain of and whom we do not trust.
Following these few rules can save what are often our life savings.
The officers add:
Let us not be defrauded! Let us discuss unusual situations that happen to us with other family members, and report any suspicious requests to borrow money to the police.