NEVER let strangers into your home!

Elderly man at the door
Photo: Oberhausen police press and public relations department
NEVER let strangers into your home!
They are usually cowards, afraid of being discovered and of fighting back. That's why these criminals target the supposedly weak and helpless senior citizens. If strangers try to make contact at the front door, there is a very simple protection: NEVER let strangers into your home!

For supposedly urgent reasons, criminals want to take our senior citizens by surprise at the front door. They are very inventive and pretend to be on official business, e.g. from the electricity, gas or water companies, the property management company, the church, the pension or health insurance company, the police, the post office or the social welfare office Sometimes they even announce their visit by telephone to allay any concerns in advance and establish a relationship of trust with the victim.

However, they all have just one goal: the criminals want to get into the home, where they then usually distract the senior citizens in order to search the home for valuables. The supposedly urgent visit then ends abruptly when the criminals have made their loot and want to leave quickly.

Never let strangers into your home
  

How to protect yourself against fraud and theft

  • Look at visitors before opening the door (peephole, look out of the window). If you have the opportunity, use a door intercom system
     
  • Do not open the house or apartment door if strangers have rung the doorbell
     
  • Request the identity card of persons claiming to be from a public authority and check it carefully (print, photo, stamp)
     
  • If you have any doubts, ask the authority before letting the person in. If possible, find out the telephone number yourself
     
  • Only let in tradespeople that you have ordered or that have been announced by the landlord or property management
     
  • Call in relatives or neighbors for unknown visitors or order the person to a later appointment if a trusted person is present
     
  • Strongly defend yourself against intrusive people (draw attention to yourself loudly to get help, show dismissive gestures and facial expressions)
     
  • Contact the police if you fear that you are the victim of a crime: Emergency call 110
Translated with DeepL.com (API Version)
In urgent cases: Police emergency number 110