Elderly female victim preyed upon for monetary gain and precious jewels
On the evening of August 25, 2025, an 85-year-old resident of Gelsenkirchen became a victim of a telephone fraud incident. The incident occurred around 9:30 PM on Liboriusstraße in Schalke.
According to the Gelsenkirchen Police, the victim received a call from a woman claiming to be a prosecutor. The caller claimed that the victim's relative had caused a serious accident and a bail was due. To provide the bail, the victim was instructed to throw cash and valuables out a window.
A man waited outside to receive the bag containing the cash and valuables. After the handover, the suspect disappeared in an unknown direction. The victim could not recognize the suspect due to the darkness.
The Gelsenkirchen Police are using this incident to warn against fraudulent schemes targeting elderly people. Traffic accidents or other misfortunes are often used in these scams to obtain valuables and money from seniors.
The Gelsenkirchen Police Press Office can be contacted at +49 209 365 2012. Alternatively, you can contact the police at 0209 365 8112 or 0209 365 8240 with any information. Emails can be sent to [email protected].
The Gelsenkirchen Police are continuing their search for witnesses to the suspicious activities. The police commissioner responsible for the press in Gelsenkirchen is not explicitly named in the provided information. However, the police president is Tim Frommeyer, and the director of central tasks is Timo Kasperczyk.
Journalists can contact Police Commissioner Florian Mühlenbrock for inquiries. The Gelsenkirchen Police advise to always be suspicious of people you don't know personally, especially on the phone. If uncertain, contact family members, friends, or the police at the emergency number 110.
The Gelsenkirchen resident lost several pieces of jewelry and a three-digit amount of cash in the fraud incident. The official website for the Gelsenkirchen Police is https://gelsenkirchen.polizei.nrw/.
The Gelsenkirchen Police are looking for witnesses to the suspicious activities. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the police immediately.
