Czech as a fraudster

“Fake cop” caught in the net of real police officers

The fake policeman calls, talks about an accident and that bail is due.

(Bild: Matthias Balk / dpa / picturedesk.com)

A 39-year-old Czech man was successful for months with the "bail trick". Now the alleged police officer is in custody. The Salzburg police were able to arrest the fraudster - the Eastern European defrauded a total of nine victims in several federal states of their well-earned money. 

Nine victims, 137,500 euros in losses - that is the result of a Czech who is said to have used the "bail trick" to extract money from his victims. The trick is particularly brazen and plays on the deep emotions of family members: The phone rings. A young voice usually whimpers in the background. A man pretends to be a policeman and talks about a traffic accident caused by the relative.

In order to help the alleged accident victim, a "deposit" is due, which they have to hand over. Seemingly shocked by the news, many of the victims actually handed over the money - and thus became real victims. 

However, the Czech's latest coup backfired. An attentive victim had a nose and had already called the real police before handing over the money. The Czech was finally arrested at the meeting. 

Investigators were able to prove that the man had committed nine crimes in Lower Austria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vienna and Salzburg, the regional police headquarters announced on Monday afternoon. The 39-year-old has confessed. He is currently in custody in Vienna.