Berlin police warn of bulky-waste collection scam

A Berliner Zeitung service piece prominent on 18 October 2026 explains a scam that Berlin police say has been spreading in the city: fraudsters pose as licensed bulky-waste collectors ('Sperrmüllabholung'), ring doorbells or hand out flyers, offer to haul away old sofas, mattresses and appliances for a modest fee and then demand several hundred euros in cash once the items are loaded. In some cases, they refuse to leave without payment or dump the waste illegally in nearby streets, leaving residents liable for the clean-up. The police remind residents that the official Berlin waste collector BSR arranges pickups through its own hotline and website at fixed, transparent prices, and that anyone unsure should ask for identification, written quotes and avoid paying large sums in cash. The piece is one of the most-read consumer-protection stories of the week on the Berliner Zeitung homepage.