A man impersonated a police officer in order to lure money away from pensioners in the town of Nové Zámky, say regional police. The first case was reported two weeks ago in the southwestern Slovak town, where an unknown offender approached a 78-year-old woman who was walking home from a store.
He told the woman that she had paid using counterfeit banknotes. “He introduced himself as a police officer and told the woman he must check all her money at her home. The man appeared confident and she had no reason not to trust him. The fake policeman took her home and she gave him €1,240. After viewing the money he told her that it was all counterfeit and that he must confiscate it”, said spokesperson for the Regional Police Headquarters in Nitra Božena Bruchterová. The same situation occurred on Tuesday, June 24 when an 82-year-old pensioner handed over €150 along with a bank card and its PIN code to a fake police officer who later made away with a total of €450. “Even in this instance the woman had no suspicion the police officer was fraudulent. He was very friendly and helpful, managing to fool these ever vigilant pensioners”, said Bruchterová. A police investigation is underway, but police remind all citizens, especially the elderly, to be wary of fraudsters who identify themselves as police to check money. “No police officer performs such an exercise. In any situation where people are suspicious they should call 158”, added Bruchterová.
