Cunning Con Mens in Berlin: Gang ACCUSED of Swindling Millions with Book Sham
Stolen Fortunes: Suspected Gang Accused of Book Heists
In the seedy underbelly of Berlin, five shady characters have reportedly formed a crooked crew. Their prey? Elderly victims, specifically those hooked on a publishing group. The scam? A fraudulent book racket involving a slick call center. Rumors of busts swirl now.
These suspicious five - aged 27, 32, 38, 50, and 52 - have been apprehended in Berlin and Brandenburg after a tip-off from local law enforcement. Allegedly, they helmed a criminal operation that bilked unsuspecting elders for years, amassing close to two million euros by fraudulent means, according to police and prosecutors.
These charlatans are said to have disguised themselves as representatives of companies involved in the trading of book collections. They extorted commission, down-payments, or fees from their deceived victims - to the tune of up to 450,000 euros - for these phony book sales. Many of their victims took loans out to finance their fictitious acquisitions. Yet, accounts of true shipments never surfaced, as per investigators. It seems most of the victims were loyal customers of a publishing group, who had previously splurged on antique book reprints, known as facsimiles.
During raids across several Berlin districts, the cops confiscated heaps of documents, data storage devices, and mobile phones. Greenbacks in the five-figure range, pricey timepieces, designer accessories, and a vehicle were also seized. A high-value coin collection, suspected to be stolen, along with two license plates from wanted vehicles were also discovered. The cops froze several bank accounts and pocketed 1.95 million euros in assets.
Keep a keen eye on the news and local press releases from German law enforcement agencies for a deeper dive into the proceedings of this sordid affair.
Source: ntv.de, mdi/AFP
- Dirty Deeds
- Shady Business
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
In the wake of the shocking con in Berlin and Brandenburg, a review of community policy and employment policy is essential to prevent such criminal activities. This incident highlights the need for stringent financial oversight in general-news, particularly when it comes to crime and justice, as unsuspecting elders continue to be targeted by such scams.
