“Fake chats” via messengers such as WhatsApp are also part of the perpetrators’ repertoire. "Hello mum. My phone is broken. That's why I have a new cell phone and a new number." The first, familiar-sounding text message from the scammers says something like this.
Successful with fake chats by unsettling victims
Using this scam, unknown perpetrators posed as the son of an 80-year-old woman from Speyer via WhatsApp between Valentine's Day and February 18, 2023, feigned financial difficulties and asked the lady to make several real-time transfers. Ultimately, the transfers failed and the perpetrators asked the lady to provide her login details including the PIN.
The lady complied with the perpetrator's demands because she suspected her son was behind the messages. The perpetrators quickly debited more than 14,000 euros from the victim's account and had the victim confirm the transaction in their banking app.
How to protect yourself from messenger fraud
- If someone you know contacts you at an unknown number, do not save the number automatically.
- Ask the person you know at the old number.
- Money transfers via WhatsApp and other messengers should always be suspicious and checked.
- Never pass on online banking login details or PIN numbers to third parties.
- Pay attention to the security settings of the messaging service you use.
Further information can be found at polizei-beratung.de
Source:
Press portal
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