Real policewoman foils fake officer’s phone scam
A fake policeman has been arrested in southern Greece for allegedly using a variation of a widespread scam on an elderly woman, only to be arrested after his intended victim’s genuine policewoman daughter twigged to the ruse, authorities said Wednesday.
A police statement said the suspect phoned his intended victim Tuesday, introduced himself as an officer and asked her to help him set up a supposed sting operation to arrest a gang of scammers by leaving cash and jewellery in a bin outside her home.
The elderly woman fell for the story and left a package containing €2,500 in cash and jewellery worth €10,000 in the rubbish bin. But her off-duty policewoman daughter realized what was happening and phoned her colleagues, who arrested the suspected scammer before he could pick up the parcel.
The suspect faces charges of attempted fraud.
The more common variation of the scam involves fake power company employees talking vulnerable people into leaving cash and valuables outdoors to supposedly avoid the risk of electrocution.
