Fake Police Officers and Doctor Defraud Elderly Women in Zagreb
Police warn senior citizens not to fall for phone scams in which fraudsters impersonate officials and demand money for banknote verification or emergency surgery.
Police warn senior citizens not to fall for phone scams in which fraudsters impersonate officials and demand money for banknote verification or emergency surgery.
Zagreb police reported on Saturday two serious frauds against elderly women that occurred this week in the Sesvete and Peščenica areas. In both cases, unknown perpetrators falsely posed as officials and extorted several thousand euros from the victims.
The first fraud occurred between Tuesday, August 4, and Thursday, August 6, in the town of Kašina in the Sesvete area. An unknown woman called the 76-year-old at her home on Blaguška Street, falsely claiming to be a police officer. She asserted that the victim possessed counterfeit money that needed to be verified.
After the elderly woman believed the fabricated story, another unknown perpetrator arrived at her home and was handed the money and a bank card. The case was reported to the police on Friday, August 7, with the material damage estimated at several thousand euros.
Just a day later, on Friday, August 7, around 7 PM, another fraud occurred, this time on II. Ferenščica Street in Peščenica. An unknown man entered the apartment of an 86-year-old woman, falsely presenting himself as a doctor. He told her that a family member had been seriously injured and urgently needed money for surgery.
Worried about her family, the woman believed the story and, as arranged, handed over several thousand euros to the fraudster.
The Zagreb Police Department (PUZ) has once again appealed to all senior citizens to be vigilant. In their statement, they emphasized that the elderly are the most frequent victims of such crimes due to their age, good nature, and the fact that they often live alone.
"Elderly citizens are the most common victims of fraud. The reasons are often their age, independent living, and good nature. Fraudsters, in addition to phone calls, are increasingly coming to doorsteps offering various services and benefits," the police stated.
The police stress that fake doctors, bankers, police officers, healthcare workers, or masseurs will never call and ask for money for surgeries, medications, or verification of counterfeit banknotes. Fraudsters skillfully exploit the concern for children and create a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly.
