Dutch seniors remain primary targets in 13,000 fake police scams in 2025

Dutch authorities recorded 13,000 incidents involving impersonators posing as police officers in 2025. While the number of cases has leveled off recently, the financial and emotional impact on victims—especially those over 70—remains severe, according to Sybren van der Velden Walda, national project leader for Seniors and Safety.

“We continue to warn against this form of organized crime,” Van der Velden Walda stated. Authorities attribute the stabilization partly to increased media attention. Broadcaster Omroep Max and the Dutch police launched a campaign titled “Is it a fake officer or is it OK? Check it via 112!” which encouraged citizens to verify suspicious calls through the emergency number.

“We asked all dispatch centers if they have received more calls about fake officers since the campaign,” Van der Velden Walda said. “Although this is not officially registered, all centers confirmed that 112 calls have indeed increased. People are calling if they suspect a fake officer contacted them or is at their door. That is exactly what we want.”

Despite public awareness, criminals continue to target seniors. “We call it organized crime for a reason,” Van der Velden Walda said. “Criminals often operate in one or two municipalities in the afternoon or early evening, calling as many seniors as possible from a call center. They also have runners ready to collect valuables immediately if people fall for it. When we detect this, we activate Burgernet to warn people that fake officers are in the area. But the reality is that people still fall victim. The pressure is enormous, with someone on the line while another person comes to your door to ‘secure’ your valuables.”

The methods of these criminals have evolved. “Initially, the call would end, and later a runner would appear at the door. Now they prefer to keep people on the line as long as possible until someone shows up, maintaining pressure and preventing victims from calling family or neighbors to verify the situation,” Van der Velden Walda explained. Victims no longer lose only jewelry. Authorities have documented cases where criminals pose as bank employees.

Van der Velden Walda recounted a victim: “I spoke with an 82-year-old woman who had saved her whole life to travel to her children abroad. She lost all her money because of a fake officer. She said she literally and figuratively ended up behind the geraniums and that it would be fine if she didn’t wake up tomorrow. That shows the impact of this crime vividly.”

Authorities have arrested more than 600 individuals for this crime in 2025, and 700 cases have been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service from previous investigations.

Despite the efforts, Van der Velden Walda emphasized that the problem remains widespread. “13,000 incidents with fake officers are still a lot. Some people discover the fraud in time but do not report it, and others do not report it out of shame. But reporting is crucial. It helps catch these criminals, and victims can receive support from Slachtofferhulp—even if it is just someone to listen.”