The Rhineland-Palatinate State Criminal Police Office gives tips on how you can protect yourself and your relatives from fraud related to the corona virus.

Beware of crimes related to the corona virus – the most important thing to start with:

The insecurity of many people is shamelessly exploited by fraudsters. Known scams are being adapted to the Corona virus. Helpful tips have been put together by the police.

The corona virus is currently the dominant topic among the population. Many people are unsettled and fear for their health and the health of others. These fears are shamelessly exploited by perfidious perpetrators to quickly get money and valuables. Well-known scams such as “grandchild tricks”, “fake shops”, “ransomware” and “CEO fraud” are being adapted to the corona virus.

New version of the grandchild trick

The criminals pose as relatives who have allegedly been infected with the virus and now urgently need money for treatment. Messengers are then sent to collect the money personally. The scam is not new! It is based on the way the classic “grandchild trick” and the “fake police officer” commit crimes.

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Police tips:

  • Put down the phone! That's not rude.
  • Never hand over money or valuables to strangers!
  • The police will never ask you for money or ask you to hand over money or valuables.
  • Report it if you have become a victim!
  • In an emergency, dial 110, emergency call police!

Police advice – grandchild trick

Rhineland-Palatinate Police: Fraud involving false police officers

New version of the fake shops scam

Fake shops are fake online platforms that exist in endless variations on the Internet. These fake shops are currently offering respiratory masks and disinfectants. However, the paid goods are not delivered to the customers.

How can you recognize fake shops?

  • The goods are offered at an unusually low price.
  • The goods are usually only available against advance payment.
  • The legal notice is incomplete or non-existent.
  • The goods – even those that are very popular and difficult to obtain – are always available.
  • The website contains numerous spelling and grammar errors.
  • Important general terms and conditions (GTCs) are missing, incorrect, not written in German or have been copied from third-party sites.
  • Other areas of the website (subpages) are empty or filled with nonsensical filler text.
  • The name of the domain is different from the real manufacturer.
  • You do not receive a correct order confirmation.

Crime prevention – protection against fake shops

Crime prevention – fake shops

New version of ransomware

Ransomware is the term used to describe malware that attacks a computer and blocks its functionality or encrypts existing data. There are two variants of ransomware. One variant prevents the use of the computer by locking the desktop. The other variant encrypts the data on the infected end systems. The general hustle and bustle that arises in connection with Corona is exploited.

Crime Prevention – Ransomware

Police Advice – Ransomware

New version of “CEO fraud”, so-called “boss fraud”

In the “CEO fraud” scam, fraudsters pose as a manager of a company, for example as a managing director (CEO). In fake emails they ask employees to transfer large sums of money from company accounts abroad. Companies are being contacted regarding the corona virus. Goods related to hygiene, for example, would have to be paid for in advance.

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How to protect yourself from CEO fraud

  • Be careful about what information you post about your company.
  • Inform your employees about the “CEO fraud” scam.

Introduce clear absence regulations and internal control mechanisms. For example, in the case of unusual transfer orders, before a transaction:

  • Check whether the sender address of the email is correct.
  • It is checked whether the payment request actually comes from the named client, for example via a callback.
  • The management or supervisor must be informed.

If you have any abnormalities or questions, please contact your local police station or the State Criminal Police Office.

Our online guard is available to you.

Source: Rhineland-Palatinate Police
Article image: Shutterstock / Naeblys


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