Vacation or rip-off? Duisburg seniors fall for fraud!

Vacation or rip-off? Duisburg seniors fall for fraud!

In May 2025, two senior citizens from Duisburg reported on their most recent experience, which is indicative of the dangers of fraud, which is often directed against older people. The two ladies originally planned a trip to the Netherlands, which was announced in October 2024. The excursion should include breakfast, lunch, and visits to a garden center, supermarket, and pharmacy.

On November 5, 2024, early in the morning at six o'clock, the ladies were picked up by a van. However, instead of the promised trip to the Netherlands, they ended up in a hotel in Bad Bentheim. There was a sales event there that they didn't expect.

Surprise sales event

There were unpleasant surprises at this hotel. One of the seniors purchased a mattress for 900 euros, which, according to the seller, was supposedly worth 2,000 euros. Another presentation offered trips for 80 euros, which, however, came with additional “agency fees” of 120 euros per trip. The 76-year-old ended up buying five short trips for a total of 1,000 euros. Her friend decided on a Usedom trip, which cost a total of 1,100 euros in cash.

Since the women didn't bring enough cash with them, they were taken to an ATM after visiting the garden center. That evening they signed forms without ever really understanding the content. Unfortunately, they would soon learn that they had been deceived.

Hidden dangers for seniors

In January 2025, the seniors received mail from the travel company, which required a deposit of 49.90 euros per booked trip. When they consulted with the consumer advice center, they discovered, shockingly, that the travel offers were package tours without a travel insurance certificate. This meant that they had no right to repayment if the provider went bankrupt.

Scammers often specifically target seniors and take advantage of their loneliness and willingness to help. Methods such as the “grandchild trick” are widespread. Fraudsters pose as grandchildren or relatives and describe emergencies in order to steal cash. In such cases, seniors should exercise particular caution and find out the identity of the caller and consult other family members.

Other common forms of fraud also lurk in the form of shock calls, where callers fake emergency situations, or fake police officers who demand money for supposed security measures. Phishing and door-to-door scams are also common methods of getting into personal homes and committing fraud. These scams are not only dangerous for the people involved, but also undermine trust in interpersonal relationships.

The consumer organization recommends that seniors be suspicious of suspicious calls or offers and only deal with reputable providers and information. If there are any suspected cases, the police should be informed immediately.

The stories of senior citizens from Duisburg are a clear reminder to be careful and to find out about possible scams. The consumer advice centers are an important contact point.

For more information about current scams, particularly against seniors, please visit NDR important instructions. Furthermore, illuminated derwesten.de the special case of the Duisburg women.