Police arrested a 19-year-old suspect after a wave of alleged phone fraud targeting victims in Bernkastel-Kues. Officers say callers posed as investigators from the Criminal Police and tried to get victims to hand over money. Between 14:00 and 19:00 on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, the police in Bernkastel-Kues received 20 reports, mostly from older people. In each case, the method was the same: unknown perpetrators claimed to be carrying out police inquiries and attempted to pressure the victims into paying. One victim, a 94-year-old man, reacted quickly. He notified the police “the right way” before the false officers could hand off the plan at his home, where a cash pickup was scheduled. Police moved in and arrested the wrongdoer at the scene. The accused is a 19-year-old from North Rhine-Westphalia. He will now be brought before an examining magistrate, according to police. The investigation into the scam attempt is ongoing, while the suspect remains in custody pending the next court step.