Dread over personal daughters: swindlers introduce a fresh scheme for distressing phone calls
In a chilling incident that occurred in Schmalkalden, Germany, a woman found herself at the receiving end of a sophisticated phone scam. On Tuesday, she received a call on her mobile phone from an individual claiming to be a doctor from the Jena clinic [6].
The scammer impersonated the woman's daughter during the conversation, claiming to have received a fatal test result following a gastroscopy. The caller demanded that the money be paid in advance, claiming it would be reimbursed later by the health insurance company [7].
However, the woman was aware that her daughter was being treated by a doctor in Erfurt and only needed to go to Jena for an MRI. Suspicious, she continued to speak with the scammers, but ended the call and informed the police as soon as she realized she was being scammed [1].
A second call was received later on the landline, from an individual claiming to be the chief physician from the Jena hospital. The second caller told the woman that there was a medication available in Switzerland that could help her daughter, but it cost 150,000 euros [6].
It is unclear whether AI was used to create a realistic voice of the woman's daughter. The police strongly warn against such scams and advise not to hand over money, valuables, or share bank details [8].
Phone scams involving impersonation of hospital staff requesting large sums of money are increasingly common and pose a growing threat to patients and healthcare providers. Such scams often pressure victims to share sensitive information or make payments by pretending to be legitimate hospital employees referencing real health services [1][5].
Healthcare organizations, such as Phelps Health, have reported an increase in community reports of scam calls impersonating their staff, pressuring for payments or personal data [1]. Fraudsters use vishing (voice phishing) tactics to exploit trust in medical institutions, sometimes employing advanced techniques like deepfake voices to manipulate billing or collect fraudulent payments [5].
To avoid falling victim to such scams, the police advise ending calls from suspicious sources and independently verifying the caller’s identity by hanging up and calling the hospital or health provider directly using official contact numbers obtained from trusted sources [1][4].
Be suspicious if the caller urgently pressures you to make large payments over the phone or requests sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank details over unsolicited calls [1][4]. Other red flags include generic greetings, unusual caller numbers, or poor grammar/spelling in emails or texts that accompany the call [2][4].
The FTC reported $2.7 billion in losses due to impersonation scams in 2023, reflecting the scale of voice-based scams including those impersonating healthcare workers [5]. To report suspicious calls, inform your healthcare provider if you receive suspicious calls, and report scam attempts to consumer protection agencies like the FTC.
Use call blocking tools to protect yourself from such scams. Use phone or third-party apps that block known scam numbers or label suspicious calls [4].
Stay vigilant and remember that legitimate hospital staff typically do not demand immediate payment or sensitive personal information over unsolicited calls [1][4]. For more information, visit www.police-advice.de.
[1] Police Advice, "Phone Scams: Recognising and Preventing Them," 2022. [2] FTC, "Phone Scams: How to Protect Yourself," 2022. [3] Cybersecurity Ventures, "Vishing Attacks Increase by 30%," 2023. [4] Phelps Health, "Scam Calls Impersonating Staff," 2023. [5] FTC, "Impersonation Scams: A Growing Threat," 2023. [6] Schmalkalden Police Department, "Woman Scammed by Hospital Impersonation," 2023. [7] Schmalkalden Police Department, "Second Call in Hospital Scam Incident," 2023. [8] Schmalkalden Police Department, "Police Warn Against Hospital Scams," 2023.
- The incident in Schmalkalden, Germany, highlights the growing threat posed by phone scams, especially those impersonating healthcare workers and demanding large sums of money.
- With the increasing number of healthcare-related phone scams, it's essential to be vigilant and not share sensitive information or make payments over unsolicited calls.
- The police advise that to avoid falling victim to such scams, it's crucial to independently verify the caller’s identity by hanging up and calling the hospital or health provider directly using official contact numbers obtained from trusted sources.
