The Netherlands is witnessing a sharp rise in incidents involving fraudsters impersonating police officers, according to a report by NOS.
This year, the number of such cases has surged to over 2,400, an increase from around 400 incidents in 2022.
These scams often target elderly individuals, who receive calls about alleged thefts in their area. The caller then offers to send an officer to collect valuables for "safekeeping," leading victims to hand over their possessions to these fake police officers.
Victims have reported losing everything from life savings to family heirlooms and valuable works of art.
The police believe that many more incidents may have occurred but have gone unreported. They are urging anyone who has fallen victim to this type of fraud to file a complaint with the authorities.
The police are emphasizing that genuine officers will never ask to take personal belongings for safekeeping. A real police officer will always be able to identify themselves with official ID, and citizens can verify their identity by calling the official police number.
In a related security measure, the Dutch government recently banned the use of phones, tablets, and laptops during meetings and official gatherings, likely due to concerns over potential hacking and eavesdropping.
