How to spot scams and what to do in an emergency

They're not inevitable. STEFFEN ZELLFELDER reports

- STEFFEN ZELLFELDER

Telephone fraud is widespread, and even prudent users can fall for the tricks of experienced scammers. Whether it's shock calls, the well-known but still successful grandchildren scam, or supposed calls from banks and authorities, the scams used by criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They aim to exploit our fear, willingness to help or curiosity, combined with a lack of appropriate risk awareness.

The consequences are often serious, ranging from financial loss to considerable emotional stress. But there's also good news: if you remain alert, act cautiously and use modern technology in a targeted manner, you can protect yourself effectively against attempted fraud.

In this article, we'll show you how to recognise typical scams used by telephone fraudsters and what specific measures can help you protect yourself against calls to your mobile phone or landline.

TYPICAL SCAMS: WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE MOMENT

Fraud calls can look very different, but usually follow similar psychological patterns. Especially if you have older people in your family, it can be useful to talk to them about the topic and the typical tricks used by criminals so that they are forewarned.

Here are the most common scams at the time of writing:

The grandchild trick

This scam has been around for a long time, but unfortunately, it is still often successful. Here's how it works. An alleged family member calls in tears or contacts you via WhatsApp with a new number (the old mobile phone has supposedly been stolen or lost).

The would-be family member then claims to be in an emergency - for example, after an accident - where money is urgently needed for an operation or for a lawyer.

The grandchild trick often targets senior citizens (hence the name) because they are assumed to be very helpful and technically naive.