2024-04-23 23:00:44
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.
++ Deactivation of the banking profile at DKB (April 22, 2024) ++
DKB customers currently have to take precautions. A scam email circulating states that the online banking profile was deactivated for security reasons and that customers would have to confirm their own information at “regular intervals” due to new regulations. Here, potential victims should click on a button (“Update Account”) to regain access to their data.
This email is a fake, which can already be seen from the salutation. The name is not mentioned there, just the email address. Under no circumstances should you click on the link, but rather move the email to the spam folder immediately.
++ Alleged account blocking at ING (April 19, 2024 ++
There is currently an increasing number of phishing emails in circulation that target ING customers. Allegedly their account was blocked due to “incorrect registration information”. It is said that those affected can reactivate their account by clicking on the “Update account details” button.
Already the salutation “Dear Sir or Madam!” shows that this is an attempted fraud. Users who click on the link in the email and try to log in with their bank details pass them on to the thieves. You should ignore this email and immediately move it to the spam folder.
++ Amazon customers are said to be ripped off (April 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 (April 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 (April 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.