Fraud warning: This is how online perpetrators trick older people!

Fraud warning: This is how online perpetrators trick older people!

In an alarming incident, a 65-year-old woman from Carinthia fell victim to a sophisticated scam. After creating a new social media account, she quickly received a friend request from an unknown man. He introduced himself as a soldier in the Austrian Air Force on a peace mission and managed to win the woman's trust through emotional manipulation. The fraudster promised a personal meeting and informed her about the upcoming deliveries of an alleged package containing valuable documents and cash. A supposed shipping company then demanded a high fee, which the woman transferred to a foreign account. It was only after further payment requests that she noticed the fraud and reported it to the police. The Carinthian police urgently warn against such scams and advise citizens to be careful with unknown contacts on the Internet ORF Carinthia reported.

The importance of social media in everyday life is undeniable, and this also applies to institutions such as the police. Monique Pilgrimm, an expert in police communications, emphasizes that social media is more than just entertainment platforms for the police. They serve crisis management, prevention and the fulfillment of information needs. Police work is increasingly being presented on social networks, including by police officers themselves, which represents great potential for recruiting new forces. One example is the police officer Helena, who gives authentic insights into her everyday working life on her Instagram account and gains a wide following. This shows that the correct presentation of the police on social media is crucial not only for the image, but also for addressing potential applicants Kom.de explained additionally.

However, police officers must exercise great care when dealing with social media, as private social media activities can also have negative consequences for the authority. Political sensitivity and the requirement to act as a role model must always be in the foreground in order to avoid unpleasant incidents. Insights into how behavior on social media influences public perceptions of police and officers are essential in an increasingly digital world.