Dutch police have now published 79 photos of suspected fraudsters who posed as police officers or bank workers, in hopes they will be tipped off about their identities.
Some 100 anonymised photos were published two weeks ago in a large-scale campaign known as Game Over to flush out the fraudsters who mainly target the elderly.
Some 21 suspects, often teenage “errand boys”, came forward or were identified by tipsters and their photos have now been removed from the campaign. The photographs of the remaining 79 are now being shown without blurring.
The stills from video doorbells and surveillance cameras can be seen on the campaign website, social media and posters at petrol stations and bus shelters.
“The campaign is very effective and detectives have their hands full,” head of police communications Daan Annegarn said. “We not only get tip-offs but companies are offering their digital screens to put up the photos.”
The 79 suspects are responsible for some of the over 13,000 cases in which people have been scammed out of money and valuables by fake police officers, often after being told burglars are active in the area.
The total value of the stolen goods is estimated at €68 million but could be higher because many people are too ashamed to report the incidents, police say.
Justice ministry officials say publishing the photographs is justified under the circumstances. “The impact of these crimes is very serious, and the public prosecution office vets each case before publication,” department official Ernst Pols said.
