Not every purchase is a bargain, as fraudsters also use the Internet to get money from online shoppers. Fake shops and dubious product offers play a central role.

Black Friday – Police are currently warning about such fraudsters!

Last year alone, the directorate recorded around 6,197 crimes, from the Teutoburg Forest to the East Frisian Islands. The majority, 60%, was digital fraud (including fake shops, eBay fraud, etc.). The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.

“If the price of a product seems remarkably cheap in comparison, you should pay attention. The unbeatable, low prices are an effective lure - especially for products that are in high demand. Online shopping is a very lucrative business for criminals.”

Laura-Christin Brinkmann, press spokeswoman for the Osnabrück Police Department.

Using fake shops and the like, criminals defraud numerous online buyers of goods and money. Fake shops are fake online sales platforms that are professionally set up - with product images and information, general terms and conditions and a fake, but usually deceptively real, imprint. The problem: The operators only offer their goods against advance payment, but do not deliver any goods after the unsuspecting victims have paid for the goods. The perpetrators also sometimes offer products on other Internet platforms at a supposedly low price in exchange for advance payment.

Also read: WhatsApp warning about “Amazon Black Friday 2022”

Tips for safe online shopping

To protect consumers, the police give tips for safe online shopping:

  • Make sure you use secure payment methods on the online platform. Prefer purchasing on account.
  • Be careful with extremely low prices. This could be an indication of a fake shop.
  • Always ensure that you have a secure internet connection (https) when transmitting personal data to the online shop.
  • Consumer advice center helps: There you can find well-known, dubious online retailers.
  • Contact the police if you suspect you have been the victim of a scam. – Save all evidence: Be it emails, sales contracts, order confirmations, keep all receipts for your purchase.

source

Osnabrück Police Department


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