A fraudster from the Friesland district posing as a police officer has been arrested in Wiesbaden. The 21-year-old is said to have cheated on a senior citizen in Varel and, among other things, stole cash from her, the police said on Tuesday. According to the information, the suspect was arrested in December last year for another offense in the Hessian state capital. Now it turned out that he was also responsible for the fraud in Varel.

In October 2022, according to the police, he is said to have pretended to be a police officer and "through skillful conversations finally stole cash and the bank card including the associated PIN" from the elderly woman, the police said. In December, the police in Varel launched a public search for the man, which ultimately helped the Hessian police establish the connection.

The 21-year-old suspect is in custody. Officials said he was "responsible as a gang member for fraudulent offenses against the elderly."

1. Police report, December 5, 2022 2. Police report, January 17, 2023