Breda man gets 30 months for scamming elderly with fake police calls
A 26-year-old man from Breda was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison, including 10 months suspended, for multiple scams targeting elderly residents, the Arnhem court announced. The man carried out at least four confirmed frauds and three attempted scams using so-called “babbeltrucs,” in which victims are deceived over the phone by someone posing as a police officer.
The crimes occurred between May 31 and June 25, 2024. In each case, the perpetrators told older victims that burglaries had been reported in their neighborhoods and that their names appeared on a list of potential criminals.
The fake officers then asked whether the victims had money or valuables at home, claiming a colleague would collect them for safekeeping. Victims who complied handed over their possessions in good faith.
The Breda man worked with unidentified accomplices and served as the collector of the stolen goods. In some cases, victims grew suspicious, and in one instance, the real police were alerted, leading to the man’s arrest in the act.
The court described the scam as more serious than a burglary, noting that the crimes targeted elderly people using lists of names and personal information often obtained illegally and sold via the dark web. “The defendants deliberately chose victims of advanced age and exploited their trust in the police,” the court said. “The man acted shamelessly, repeatedly visiting homes to take valuables with unparalleled audacity. At no point did he or his accomplices consider the impact on their victims.”
Each completed fraud was considered severe enough to warrant a five-month prison term. The court emphasized the gravity of the man’s role as the collector and the repetitive nature of the crimes, determining that only a substantial, partially unconditional sentence was appropriate.
The court also ordered the man to pay a total of 113,985 euros in material damages and 4,000 euros for immaterial harm to the victims. If his accomplices are later identified and prosecuted, they will be responsible for part of the compensation.
