Landeskriminalamt |
Fake Cop

One phone call is all it takes to bring an elderly man to the brink of a life-changing fraud.

In our prevention campaign "Fake Cop" for the State Criminal Investigation Office (Landeskriminalamt) Baden-Württemberg, we highlight one of the many common scams used by fraudsters to raise targeted awareness of so-called "call center fraud." The core message is clear: actual police officers will never demand money or valuables over the phone, nor will they ask to collect them for "safekeeping." Furthermore, the police will never pressure citizens to hand over assets to unknown individuals. The campaign specifically aims to protect vulnerable groups and sharpen public awareness of manipulative phone tactics.

The film "#durchschaut" (Seen Through) was produced in cooperation with the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and received additional support from the Baden-Württemberg Police Helicopter Unit. The production blends documentary elements with a clear, preventative narrative to realistically depict typical conversation scenarios while establishing an easy-to-follow warning structure. By maintaining a visual closeness to the daily lives of those affected, the film makes it easier for citizens to recognize and react to such fraud attempts in real-time.

Ultimately, the campaign’s goal is to provide actionable confidence: skepticism toward unusual calls, verifying through official channels, and hanging up immediately are the central recommendations for effective self-protection. For several months during the pandemic, #durchschaut was screened nationwide in all vaccination centers as a primary awareness and educational spot.