Jena, April 15, 2026 – In Jena, an employee has fallen victim to a perfidious scam. Unknown perpetrators digitally impersonated her superior and obtained vouchers worth 1,000 euros through targeted deception.
- Crime Scene: Jena
- Time of Crime: Evening of April 14, 2026
- Damage: 1,000 euros (Wunschgutscheine)
- Modus Operandi: Fraud by fake superior (CEO Fraud)
Manipulated Account Leads to Transfer of Funds
On Tuesday evening, the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena was notified of a serious case of fraud. According to the current state of the investigation, the affected employee received a text message that apparently came directly from her boss. In this fake communication, she was urgently instructed to purchase so-called “Wunschgutscheine” (gift vouchers) with a total value of 1,000 euros.
Believing she was following a legitimate work instruction, the employee purchased the requested vouchers and immediately transmitted the redemption codes to the sender of the message. The fraud was only discovered afterwards: it turned out that the communication account used had been manipulated. The Kriminalpolizei has initiated an official investigation.
Background & Prevention: The „Boss Trick“ (CEO Fraud)
This type of fraud, known as „CEO Fraud“ or the „Boss Trick,“ aims to force quick financial or voucher transfers by building up time pressure and exploiting professional hierarchies. In this context, the Kriminalpolizei urgently advises the following protective measures:
- Be fundamentally suspicious of unusual payment or purchase requests via messenger, SMS, or email.
- Check sender addresses and phone numbers carefully. Criminals often use deceptively real imitations.
- When receiving financial instructions, always consult with the supposed sender via an alternative, known communication channel (e.g., by telephone via the company’s landline number).
- Never share voucher codes, PINs, or passwords via chat services.
Contact the Police
Persons wishing to report similar incidents or who have questions can contact the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena directly:
Phone: 03641 811503
Email: Pressestelle.LPI.Jena@polizei.thueringen.de
Source:
Fraud by fake superior – Vouchers obtained
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.