Alarm in North Bremen: Fraudsters pose as Alerno employees!

Alarm in North Bremen: Fraudsters pose as Alerno employees!

A worrying case of doorstep fraud is currently making the rounds in Bremen. Unknown perpetrators pose as employees of the Alerno tutoring institute and try to ask at the front doors for information about school-age children. Families in North Bremen report unwanted visits that give the impression that the alleged representatives have a legitimate connection to the tutoring facility. [Weser Kurier].

The so-called scammers request contact details and information about the children, which raises worrying questions for the families concerned. Erik Hollander, Managing Director of Alerno, makes it clear: “Our employees do not make doorstep calls and do not collect any personal data.” This could be a relief for many parents, but at the same time it is a warning sign that such scams specifically target parents.

How you can protect yourself

The police have responded and strongly advise parents to call 911 if in doubt and not to respond to unsolicited rings. The Polizei-Beratungsportal emphasizes that such scams primarily affect older people, but also families with children. The perpetrators use sophisticated pretexts to get into the house - be it in the form of alleged craftsmen or other cleverly staged stories.

Further background to these criminal activities is provided by an article on Fachanwalt, which explains that perpetrators try to open the door by speaking personally and creating trust and then possibly steal valuables or have contracts signed that the victims do not want. The recommendations for protection are clear: do not let strangers into your home, check people's identities and only open when the locking bar is presented.

• Geboten wird ein Höchstmaß an Vorsicht: Gespräche höflich abbrechen, wenn Sie sich unwohl fühlen.
• Identitätsnachweis einfordern, insbesondere von angeblichen Amtspersonen. Überprüfen Sie, ob Ausweise echt sind.
• Besucher idealerweise durch Türspion oder Fenster prüfen.
• Widerspruchsrecht: Bei Haustürgeschäften haben Sie unter bestimmten Bedingungen 14 Tage Zeit, um den Vertrag zu widerrufen.

Finally, it remains to be said that it is important to find out about such scams and to remain careful in everyday life. Especially in times when families can be supported through education and tutoring, it is a shame that dubious people try to abuse these offers for their own purposes. Alerno is in close contact with the police and has already informed neighborhood managers and other local actors to raise awareness among people in the district.