Individual experiences substantial crypto asset loss due to deceitful scheme
In a series of chilling incidents, residents from Fellbach, Überlingen, and Ravensburg have fallen prey to a sophisticated cryptocurrency phone scam. The latest victim, a 60-year-old man from Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance, has lost a staggering 1.2 million euros.
The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, wanted to invest in cryptocurrencies starting in May. He was lured into a supposed trading platform, where he transferred his money to foreign accounts. However, the man discovered his money was long gone when he tried to withdraw his supposed high profits, only to find significant taxes and fees demanded.
The scam appears to be increasing in frequency, according to a police spokeswoman. Another victim from Überlingen in the same district was defrauded of 160,000 euros, while a woman from Fellbach has been defrauded of an undisclosed five-figure sum. A victim from Ravensburg was defrauded of 300,000 euros in a similar scam.
The incidents have been reported recently, but the method used in the phone scams remains undisclosed in the available sources. In one case, the scam involved a call supposedly from the victim's bank, using a correct phone number.
The incidents are not connected to the Ukraine conflict, as reported in a separate article stating that Germany is the largest supporter of Ukraine.
The man from Friedrichshafen has recently filed a report with the police, but no further information about the supposed trading platform is provided in the article. The foreign accounts the money was transferred to are associated with the supposed trading platform, but no details are available about their location or ownership.
The police are urging caution when it comes to cryptocurrency investments and remind the public to verify the legitimacy of any investment opportunities before transferring funds. If you believe you have been a victim of a phone scam, report it to the police immediately.
