July 16, 2026, 10:22 am | Read time: 2 minutes
After several reported scam calls in Cottbus, the South Police Directorate is warning of a current fraud scheme. Unknown callers are posing as hospital doctors and describing an alleged emergency within the family. Apparently, the perpetrators aim to prompt their conversation partners to make an immediate payment. According to current findings, these attempts have only been unsuccessful.
Several residents in Cottbus have already been contacted by the unknown callers. According to the police, these callers introduced themselves as doctors from a hospital and reported a seriously ill relative. They claimed that money was urgently needed for a supposedly necessary treatment.
By describing the emergency, the perpetrators tried to put emotional pressure on the called individuals to prompt a quick payment. However, according to the police, the victims recognized the scam attempt by the supposed doctors in time. No money or other assets were handed over or transferred, so no financial damage occurred.
How Affected Individuals Should Act
Nevertheless, the South Police Directorate urges caution. Officers emphasize that government agencies and medical institutions do not make monetary demands over the phone. This also applies to the police, public prosecutors, and courts. Anyone receiving such a call should not be pressured into making a hasty decision.
It is recommended to immediately end the call, note the displayed phone number, and then inform the police. This way, incidents can be reported and further investigations supported.
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Families Can Secure Themselves with a Code Word
If there are doubts about the authenticity of a call, the police advise involving trusted individuals and contacting the supposedly affected relative only through a known phone number. The number provided by unknown callers should not be used for this purpose.
As an additional precaution, the police recommend a personal code word within the family. This allows for verifying the identity of a relative in a real emergency. Personal data and information about assets or bank accounts should never be shared with unknown callers. Anyone who feels pressured during a call or receives an unusual monetary demand should end the call immediately.