2024-08-02 09:57:21
Fraud Ticker
Fraud at charging stations with fake QR codes
Updated on 01.08.2024 – 15:59Reading time: 9 min.
Fraudsters are always coming up with new ways to cheat people out of their money. We’ll show you how they’re currently being ripped off.
There is a real wave of rip-offs currently hitting consumers. Fraudsters are trying to gain access to sensitive data, credit cards and accounts, primarily through digital channels. You can always read the latest scams they are currently using here.
Using the charging stations for electric cars seems very simple: scan the QR code, enter payment details, charge the car, drive on. However, due to a new scam, electric car drivers should now be particularly careful during their next charging process. The automobile magazine “Auto, Motor und Sport” reports on rip-offs using fake QR codes.
The scam: If you scan the fake QR code, you end up on a fake payment page where the credit card details of unsuspecting people are stolen. This is called “quishing”, i.e. phishing via QR code. Cases are also known from other countries – for example Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy.
It is suspected that fraudsters are using jamming signals to prevent the app from being used, so that e-car drivers are forced to scan the QR code. The trick is difficult to see through, because charging actually works almost as usual. Users enter their payment details on the operator’s first fake website, initially without successful access to electricity. However, the fraudsters set up a redirect so that e-car drivers simply assume that the attempt was unsuccessful and in the second step enter their details again on the real site – and then gain access to the charging station.
This is how consumers protect themselves: Always look closely at the sticker – is it just stuck on and is there perhaps a second QR code from the actual operator underneath? Some operators also have a code on the display. In this case, it is better to scan this – the QR code stickers can be manipulated more easily. Or, if possible, use the operator’s charging app or the credit card reader.
If a large amount appears on the screen that is to be debited, or if the operator’s website seems strange to users, it is better to cancel the process and block the credit card to be on the safe side. If in doubt, contact the operator or the police to draw attention to the possible fraud.
A new scam affects the popular audio streaming platform Spotify. Fake emails are currently circulating with the subject “Update your payment information for Spotify Premium”. The scammers are using this to obtain personal data and payment information.
The emails claim that the customer’s payment for the next billing period could not be processed. Recipients are asked to confirm their payment information by clicking on a link to prevent possible “disruptions in your system.” The link is labeled “Update payment information.”
How can you protect yourself? The consumer advice center advises you to check sender addresses carefully. You can often recognize so-called phishing emails by unusual or slightly different email addresses. Also, do not simply click on the links without being sure of their authenticity.
The consumer advice center also points out that reputable companies like Spotify would not request sensitive data via email. So never give out your personal data such as passwords or payment information this way. If you are unsure about the sender of an email, it is best to contact the provider’s customer service directly.
Almost three quarters of all online fraud cases affect the younger generations – Millennials (28 to 43 years old) and Generation Z (18 to 27 years old). This was the result of an analysis of the cases reported to the digital bank Revolut. According to this, the younger generation lost an average of around 474 euros per fraud case. The older generations were less likely to fall victim to fraudsters, but when they did, they lost significantly more money.
Generation X (44 to 59 year olds) reported a total of 12 percent of fraud cases and lost more than 1,300 euros per case. Baby boomers (60 to 78 year olds) made up 15 percent and, according to Revolut, lost an average of 18,000 euros per fraud case.
Across all generations, it was clear that social networks were the source of most fraud cases. Many people also fell victim to fraudsters on fake websites.
The White Ring – a non-profit organization that supports victims of crime and prevents crime – warns against the scam of so-called marriage scammers on the Internet. The scammers particularly target middle-aged women. “Among 40 and 50-year-old women, there are always cases in which a man seeks contact with them and then deceives them into believing they are in a relationship,” explains Lena Weilbacher from the White Ring in Mainz.