Elderly Women in Hoyerswerda Fall Victim to Romance and Impersonation Scams

Two elderly women in Hoyerswerda, Germany, became victims of scams. One was deceived by a man posing as a romantic interest who solicited Apple gift cards, while the other was targeted by someone impersonating a prosecutor demanding large wire transfers based on a fabricated criminal investigation.

Overview of the Scams

Two incidents of fraud targeting elderly women were reported in Hoyerswerda, Saxony, Germany. Both cases involved sophisticated manipulation tactics designed to exploit emotional vulnerabilities and trust.

Romance Scam Details

In the first case, a 72-year-old woman was deceived by a man she met on social media. The perpetrator posed as a romantic interest and persuaded her to purchase Apple gift cards, demanding that she share the gift codes with him. The total loss amounted to approximately 6,000 euros. Once the victim's finances were depleted, the scammer cut off contact entirely.

Impersonation Scam Details

In the second case, an 85-year-old woman received a phone call from someone claiming to be a prosecutor. The caller fabricated a story about multiple burglary cases and claimed that the victim's name appeared in a notebook found on arrested suspects. The fraudster further alleged that a local savings bank employee was involved in the crimes and instructed the victim to make several wire transfers to "expose" the corrupt employee. The victim was told the money would be returned immediately. She subsequently transferred tens of thousands of euros.

How to Identify These Scams

Warning Signs of Romance Scams

Rapid progression of relationship through social media
Consistent avoidance of meeting in person or repeated postponements
Urgency in requesting financial support
Demands for payment via gift cards or prepaid cards (which are non-refundable)

Warning Signs of Impersonation Scams

Unexpected calls from someone claiming to be a government official
Mention of a bank employee's involvement in alleged crimes
Emphasis on urgency to pressure immediate wire transfers
Claims that the victim's name was found in a suspect's records (legitimate investigations do not typically proceed this way)

Prevention and Protection Strategies

Never comply with unsolicited requests for money — Legitimate government agencies and financial institutions do not request payment via gift cards or prepaid cards over the phone.
Verify official claims independently — If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement official or prosecutor, end the call and contact the agency directly using a publicly listed phone number to confirm the inquiry.
Exercise caution with online romantic relationships — Financial requests from people you have never met in person are a major red flag for fraud.
Understand gift card risks — Once a gift card code is shared with a third party, the money cannot be recovered.
Consult trusted family members or friends — Before making any financial decisions based on an unsolicited request, discuss the situation with someone you trust.

Reporting and Support

If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, report it to local law enforcement immediately. In this case, the Görlitz Police Directorate (Polizeidirektion Görlitz) handles such reports. Prompt reporting can help protect other potential victims and support ongoing investigations.