Several police authorities in Germany warned on 30 October 2026 of a scam that has recently become more prevalent: callers pose as bank employees or IT staff from the victim’s bank, claim there are irregularities with the account and say someone will come round to “check” it. At the front door, the collectors demand the bank card and often cash as well. Financial losses have been reported in several federal states.
The warnings are based on recent cases, including those from Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Brandenburg. In some cases, arrests have been made, according to Polizei , while searches are ongoing in others. The criminal police stresses that genuine bank employees never ask people to hand over their bank card, personal identification number (PIN) or cash without being asked, and do not collect such items from people’s homes. Technical pretexts, such as supposed security updates or bank “blocks”, are also used solely to put pressure on victims.
Media reports, including those by NDR and Tagesschau, describe the scam as a familiar tactic that is currently being used more frequently again. Investigators see signs of groups in which tasks are divided: call centres gain victims’ trust over the phone, then couriers or “collectors” turn up at their address shortly afterwards. Older people are often targeted, but people of all ages are affected. The Aschaffenburg Public Prosecutor’s Office and other public prosecutors’ offices are overseeing ongoing investigations into similar cases.
Police advise people to take clear precautions: end suspicious calls immediately and call your bank back only using its officially published phone number. Do not open the door to strangers and never hand over your bank card, PIN or cash. Do not be persuaded to allow remote access to your computer over the phone, and do not share any codes sent by text message or app. If in doubt, call the emergency number 110. Anyone who has already been targeted should inform their bank immediately, have their cards blocked and report the crime to the police. Relatives and neighbours are urged to talk to older people in particular about the scam.
The authorities point out that fraudsters often spoof phone numbers so that apparently genuine bank or police numbers appear on the caller ID. People should therefore be wary even when the number looks familiar. Police stations offer prevention events and information materials; information about suspects, vehicles or possible collection times could help the investigations. The authorities give specific amounts of losses on a case-by-case basis; they provide only limited information about ongoing cases for tactical reasons.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).