"Fatal accident"

Daughter allegedly in prison: mother scammed in Vienna

A woman (64) was the victim of a serious scam on Friday: according to the police, she received a call in which she was told that her daughter was in prison following a fatal traffic accident and that a bail of several thousand euros was required. The woman then handed over the money to an unknown perpetrator in the center of Vienna. 

The 64-year-old later contacted her daughter and realized that she had fallen victim to a scam. According to the police, the total loss is in the mid five-figure range. The perpetrator was described by the victim as small and dark-skinned.

How to protect yourself from scammers:

• Beware of unknown calls
• Do not disclose any details
• Do not hand over money to strangers
• Check the story
• Ask for identification
• Take warnings seriously
• Inform family

The police again warned that fraudsters often pretend to be police officers, public prosecutors or even family members. "Hang up immediately if the caller asks for money, valuables or bank details," said the executive.