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Hilden Woman, 84, Loses €300,000 in Months-Long Fake-Official Phone Scam

Bank staff exposed the fraud after she sought a mortgage to keep making payments.

Overview

  • Police say multiple callers posed as police, prosecutors, judges or bank employees to gain her trust.
  • The victim was instructed to withdraw funds, convert them to gold and hand them to a supposed prosecutor’s collector.
  • The scheme began with a call in December 2025 and continued for roughly three months before being detected on March 6.
  • Officers report the losses amounted to her life savings, estimated at about €300,000.
  • Authorities warn they never ask about assets or take valuables for “safe custody” and advise hanging up and calling 110.