German singing ‘Superstar’ Seeger admits card scam
2 June 2015
From the section Europe
Severino Seeger has vowed to pay back the money he is accused of tricking his victims out of
The newly-crowned winner of a German TV singing contest has admitted in court to defrauding pensioners.
Severino Seeger won €500,000 (£360,000; $530,900) on the show, Germany’s Quest for a Superstar (DSDS) last month.
The 28-year-old was accused of being part of a gang that tricked victims, mainly elderly women, out about €19,000 using a bank card scam.
Reports say the court hearing in Frankfurt was delayed until after the DSDS final.
Mr Seeger appeared before a judge on Tuesday as the court was due to hear testimony from several elderly witnesses.
Local media showed images of fans crowding around the building, some wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Superstar 2015: Prince of hearts”.
‘Ashamed’
The singer told the court he had been manipulated by people after separating from his first wife
The singer is alleged to have posed a as bank employee to help collect cards and pin numbers from victims, many of them older women.
Gang members – several of whom have already been convicted – called their targets to tell them their cards needed to be checked because of technical problems.
The oldest victim is said to have been 88 years old.
Mr Seeger told the court he had just separated from his first wife when he …read more
Source:: BBC Entertainment
