There are currently fake messages circulating that claim to come from “oesterreich.gv.at” and “A-Trust”. In this article we will show you how to recognize them and how you can protect yourself from these fraudulent messages.

The deception: Trustworthy senders “oesterreich.gv.at” and “A-Trust”

Phishing attacks have evolved and are now more sophisticated than ever. The scammers disguise themselves as trustworthy senders. In this case, these are well-known authorities or institutions, such as “oesterreich.gv.at” and “A-Trust”. But be careful: the emails are actually classic phishing messages.

The senders even use seemingly legitimate email addresses such as servicecenter@a-trust.at and service@oesterreich.gv.at to deceive victims. This deception makes it even more difficult to detect the fraudulent intentions.

The alleged refund

The phishing messages lure victims with a seemingly tempting message, often in the form of alleged refunds or other financial benefits. The content of such an email is:

“Dear customer,

you have a pending refund from http://Oesterreich.gv.at Our transaction management system recognizes that you are eligible to receive this payment

Your refund is available online

Registration number 10094468
Payment method: Payment online
Date 13/09/2023

At To accept express payments online, click the following link and save your refund information:

Continue

See you soon online.
Austria Government Digital Sales and Service.”

Fake email / screenshot: Watchlist Internet
Fake email / screenshot: Watchlist Internet

However, if you click on “Continue”, you will be taken to a fake page that imitates the A-Trust login. But if you look at the URL you can see that you are not on oesterreich.gv.at, but on a page with the address “https://hghkorea.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/…”.

Fake website / screenshot: Watchlist Internet
Fake website / screenshot: Watchlist Internet

Protective measures: what you can do

  • Change your password immediately: If you have already fallen for the phishing message, you should change your password immediately. This will help protect your account from further misuse.
  • Report your account as hacked: Most online platforms offer the option to report your account as hacked. Use this option to document the incident and take further steps.
  • Consult the Internet Ombudsman: If you need support or are unsure how to proceed, you can contact the Internet Ombudsman . There you will receive professional advice and help.
  • Contact A-Trust or oesterreich.gv.at: If you are unsure about its authenticity, contact the official authorities immediately. You can also report the incident here. The staff at these organizations are best placed to help you protect your account and take further steps.

Prevention: How to protect yourself from phishing

To effectively protect yourself against phishing attacks, you should consider the following tips:

  • Be suspicious: Be skeptical of emails that promise unexpected financial offers or refunds, especially if they come from unknown senders.
  • Check the email address: Look closely at the sender address. Scammers often try to impersonate trustworthy organizations by using similar email addresses.
  • Do not click on suspicious links: If you have any doubts about the authenticity of an email, do not click on any links contained within it. Instead, you should go to the official website of the organization in question directly from your web browser.
  • Install security software: Use trusted antivirus software to protect your computer from malware and phishing attempts.
  • Stay informed: Check regularly for current scam methods and alerts to stay up to date.

Conclusion

Phishing emails are a serious threat in today's digital world. Scammers are becoming increasingly adept at posing as trustworthy senders and luring victims into a trap.

Remember that official organizations never request confidential information via email, especially passwords or personal information.

By remaining vigilant, being suspicious of suspicious emails, and following the protective measures mentioned above, you can effectively protect yourself from phishing attacks.

If you would like to receive more information about security precautions and scam alerts, subscribe to our Mimikama newsletter . Also take a look at our extensive media education offering .

Source:

Watchlist Internet

This might also be of interest:
The fake warning: How criminals rip off under lawyer names!
Danger on Vinted: The fraudsters’ perfidious game – How to protect yourself!
Internet and Abundance: Our Power to Choose Wisely


If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:

📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.

Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!

* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!


Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )