2024-04-22 22:23:02
Fraudsters are always coming up with new scams to trick people out of their money. We’ll show you how people are currently being ripped off.
It is a real wave of rip-offs that is currently hitting consumers. Fraudsters primarily try to gain access to sensitive data, credit cards and accounts through digital channels. You can always read about which stitch you are currently using here.
++ Amazon customers are said to be ripped off (04/19/2024) ++
Customers of the online retailer Amazon are increasingly being targeted by phishing attacks. An email is circulating this week that claims to be a message from the company and asks recipients to check their “Amazon account security,” as the consumer advice center reports.
The scam email claims that “unusual login activity” was detected on the user account. For this reason, users should reset their password “for security reasons.” A three-step guide is provided: Users are asked to log in to their account using a button included in the email, they are then given a code to reset their password and are then instructed to complete the process. The email also contains a contact reference for any questions.
However, experts strongly warn against following the instructions in this email. This is a clear case of phishing – an attempt by criminals to obtain sensitive personal information. The dubious layout and the different fonts are already indications that the message does not actually come from Amazon. The impersonal salutation and the incorrect sender address are further indications of the fraudulent nature of the email.
Consumer advocates advise that users should therefore be careful and forward such emails to the spam folder.
++ Alleged wine testers at work again (04/18/2024) ++
Last fall, the German Wine Institute warned of fraudsters who called in the name of the institution and pretended to be wine testers. Now the stitch is applied again. There are reports of calls with a Berlin area code (030 31875721). In the current case, which was reported on t-online, a man spoke in broken German and explained that he wanted to do a survey for the German Wine Institute.
This is how the fraudsters proceed: They ask those affected about their wine preferences, such as: “Do you prefer to drink white wine, rosé or red wine?”, “Do you drink daily, several times a week or rarely?”, “Do you prefer dry or sweet? “, warns the German Wine Institute. If you try to terminate the connection, you will be promised a surprise gift. Finally, the callers would ask for the full name and address in order to deliver the gift. In some cases, credit card details are also requested.
- Under no circumstances should you give out personal information. “The German Wine Institute generally does not conduct surveys of this type,” a spokesman told t-online. And surveys from reputable institutes are carried out anonymously. Anyone who shares data or agrees to be contacted again can suddenly find themselves confronted with countless advertising calls.
- Report the number to the Federal Network Agency if you think it is a scammer.
- Tell your family and friends how to handle such calls. You can block the number on your landline phone or smartphone if you feel constantly harassed.
++ Lovescamming: Old lady cheated (04/13/2024) ++
A senior citizen from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was cheated out of around 25,000 euros in a case of lovescamming. This is what the police in Stralsund report. She writes: “Over several months, a suspected fraudster fought for a place in the 74-year-old’s heart.” The man persuaded the old lady to transfer the large sum to strangers in several steps.
The alleged admirer, who introduced himself as a car dealer, had been ensnaring the senior citizen since mid-December 2023. He had previously contacted her via a dating platform and sent her flowers and a card to earn her trust. Then the man suddenly spoke of money worries and asked the woman to give him money. The 74-year-old complied, according to the police report. When the woman had doubts about the man’s honesty, she filed a complaint.