Overview
- Local police have confirmed a series of scams in Groningen in which callers claiming to be officers tell residents to prepare valuables for 'safe' collection and then send someone to pick them up at the door.
- In a recent Leek case police arrested three male suspects after jewellery, cash and a bank card were taken from a 74-year-old victim; two suspects remain in custody while a third has been released but remains under investigation.
- Authorities say perpetrators sometimes wear police-like uniforms during doorstep collections, but real officers will never ask citizens to hand over valuables, bank cards or PINs for safekeeping.
- Police advise people to hang up on suspicious calls, call the non-emergency number 0900-8844 to check an officer's identity, dial 112 if someone is at the door or the situation feels dangerous, and always ask to see police ID.
- Teams handling the cases stress that older residents are being specifically targeted and urge neighbors and carers to warn vulnerable people and report any new incidents to the police so investigators can track the pattern.