Have you heard about the Europol ploy – a scam that’s been making the rounds in Germany recently, causing millions of dollars in losses? Well, there is every reason to take care and we have all the details for you. If you haven’t already been targeted, you’re likely to be soon. So please read on for helpful information.
What is the Europol ploy?
The Europol ploy is a scam where callers posing as European police attempt to get people to pay money to avoid being arrested. It starts with a phone call which, when answered, plays an automated message saying that the police are waiting on the line. If the person being scammed continues to communicate with the fraudster, they’re then connected to someone who claims to be from the German Federal Criminal Office (BKA). The scammers manage to convince their victims that they are involved in some serious crime and therefore wanted by the police. They then give the victims the option of paying some money in order to be set free.
Here’s exactly how it works: so you get a call from someone who says they’re from Europol. They tell you that you’ve been caught breaking the law and that you need to pay a fine immediately. If you don’t pay up, they threaten to arrest you or seize your assets.
As if that’s not bad enough, the scammers are often very convincing. They know the names of actual Europol agents and they can recite official-sounding legal jargon. They even have fake caller ID numbers that make it look like the call is coming from Europe.
So far, the scam has netted millions of dollars from German victims. But it’s not just Germans who are being targeted—the scam is spreading to other countries in Europe as well.
These fraudsters are very good at what they do. The calls are well-rehearsed and sound very official, which is why so many people have been tricked into paying them up.
What should you do if you have been a victim of the Europol ploy?
If you’ve received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Europol and they ask you to transfer money to them, don’t do it! This is a scam known as the Europol ploy, and as we have seen many Germans have lost millions to it.
If you believe you may have been a victim of this scam, or indeed any other type of scams, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to the police. They will be able to help you recover any money that has been stolen from you.
The Federal Network Agency has reported that it has received over 7,600 complaints about the Europol ploy in June 2022 alone. As a result the Agency is urging people not to transfer any money or give out any personal information, and to report any suspicious calls to the police.
It’s important to remember that Europol will never call you to ask for money. If you receive a call like this, hang up and report it to the police. And finally, spread the word! Let your friends and family know about this scam so they can be vigilant too.
How can Scam Help assist you?
Firstly, Scam Help is a registered funds recovery agency that works to assist victims of scams. If you have been scammed, the first thing you need to do is make use of our FREE CONSULTATION where you’ll get a chance to assess the chances of recovering your funds. Of course there are so many types of scams, and our experts are well experienced to guide you appropriately.
