In the course of intensive joint investigations by the special public prosecutor's office for cybercrime at the Leipzig public prosecutor's office, the "Schock" investigation group of the Leipzig criminal investigation department and several police departments in other federal states, a total of seven people suspected of being involved in a large number of gang-related fraud cases throughout Germany were identified.
The start of the investigation
The investigation began with an attempt to defraud a 62-year-old woman from Leipzig on January 6, 2025. She received a call from an unknown female person who introduced herself as police officer Stefanie Klein. The alleged policewoman deliberately told the victim untruthfully that burglaries were currently taking place in her residential area. Two offenders had already been arrested and two others were on the run. A list was said to have been found with the arrested persons, on which the next target persons were recorded. The victim's name and address were at the top of the list. Another unknown male accomplice, who introduced himself as police officer Ralf Rößler, took over the conversation and asked the victim for cash and valuables in her apartment. The victim was then asked to put her cash in an envelope and hand it over to the "police" for security purposes. About an hour later, the victim's doorbell rang. The victim, who had become suspicious in the meantime, did not open the door and no money was handed over. Instead, she informed the police. The man who had come to collect the money left the property without any money and was arrested by the police. Since then, the suspect (23, Turkish) has been in custody.
Investigations lead to further arrests
As a result of the subsequent investigations, two other members of the gang (male, 24 and 25, both Turkish) were identified. They are suspected of having acted as "logisticians" and "clients". On April 10, 2025, searches were carried out at the suspects' homes in Chemnitz and Waldbüttelbrunn near Würzburg. Several items of evidence and cash were seized. The Leipzig District Court issued arrest warrants for the two other suspects on April 8 and 10, 2025 as requested.
Successful cooperation key
This successful investigation was made possible by the close cooperation between the Special Prosecutor's Office for Cybercrime at the Leipzig Public Prosecutor's Office, the "Schock" investigation team of the Leipzig Criminal Investigation Department and the police departments LKA 263 Berlin, LKA Schleswig-Holstein and colleagues from the Upper Franconia police station.
Summary
The case illustrates the vigilance and success of police cooperation in the fight against gang fraud. Thanks to the coordinated efforts, several suspects were arrested and further potential crimes were prevented. The public should continue to be vigilant and report suspicious calls.
