Antoinette Rosen's Troubling Affair with Scammers
Veteran Austrian actress Antoinette Rosen, known for her role in ARD telenovela "Rote Rosen," found herself in an uncomfortable situation when she fell prey to scammers. The 90-year-old actress received two shock calls that left her feeling embarrassed.
The first call came from someone claiming to be a police inspector, informing her that she was on a list of elderly individuals set to be robbed. A plainclothes officer was supposed to pick up her bank card left under her apartment's doormat. "I feel so ashamed, I completely fell for it," Rosen shared on Tuesday. This incident resulted in a loss of around 4000 euros.
Several months later, Rosen received another call that was quite different. She was told that her niece in Vienna was involved in a fatal car accident where a child was killed. Bail had to be paid to prevent her niece's arrest, and Rosen was willing to fork over 6000 euros. However, it was her quick-thinking brother who saved her from the scam. "I was so frustrated with myself," Rosen emphasized.
Rosen is not the only celebrity to have fallen victim to such scams. Criminologist Christian Pfeiffer from Hanover and former mayor of Bremen, Henning Scherf, have also got close to being scammed. They went public to warn people about these attacks.
The Lüneburg police have been alerting people about these criminal calls for weeks now. They are currently looking for a 'runner' or 'collector' associated with these scams, using a sketch as a reference.
Scams targeting celebrities and elderly individuals have become increasingly common. In Halifax, Canada, seniors have faced such scams, with con artists posing as family members or legal officials demanding bail money. Similarly, in 2023, seniors reported losing about $3.4 billion to such scams, according to FBI data.
To avoid such incidents, it is essential to verify information, remain skeptical of unexpected text messages and calls, create a safe word with family, report suspicious activity, educate yourself and others, use strong security measures, and document evidence.
Source:
Enrichment Insights
- Shock calls targeting celebrities and seniors are not an isolated incident. These scams have been reported in various parts of the world, including Canada.
- The FBI reported a significant loss to seniors due to scams in 2023.
- To prevent falling victim to such scams, individuals must follow various measures, such as verifying information, using strong security measures, and staying skeptical of unsolicited calls or texts. These steps can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
