One area of increasing concern is online fraud, particularly in e-commerce. The following article tells the story of a 66-year-old man from Kierspe who, despite all caution, fell for a sophisticated scam. It is a warning and at the same time a guide to prevent the same thing from happening to you.
The trap closes: a fraud case with fine details
Our 66-year-old protagonist had no concerns when he ordered a WiFi repeater from a well-known online mail order company at the end of June. The supplier who supplied him with the product was also a well-known name. So what was the problem? The devil was in the details.
Although he had received the repeater, the nasty surprise came in July: a reminder with additional fees arrived at Kiersper's house. How could that happen? The product was paid for and delivered. Careful investigation revealed that a fraudster was behind it.
“Clone”: How the scammer worked
The fraudster took advantage of the trust of the customer and the platform. He slightly manipulated the actual vendor's name and offered a product he did not own. Instead, he ordered the product from the real supplier and had it delivered to the buyer. The fraudster collected the purchase price. Nothing was passed on to the actual provider - the invoice remained unpaid there.
Thanks to the direct debit system, it is at least possible to reverse payments within a certain period of time. Nevertheless, you should definitely be vigilant to avoid such scams.
Caution is the mother of the china box: tips for safe online shopping
So how can you protect yourself from such scams? Here is some advice:
- Be skeptical of cheap offers: It's great to get a bargain, but if a price seems too good to be true, in most cases it isn't.
- Check the seller: Don't be fooled by the seller. Do the sender and recipient match? Is it the same company you know and trust? An extra letter or number could be a clue to a scammer.
- Be careful with foreign bank accounts: If you are asked to transfer money to an account abroad, alarm bells should ring for you.
- Use the payment methods offered by the sales platform: Even if these involve additional fees, they often offer more protection and the possibility of reversing payments if necessary.
- Report inconsistencies: If you have any suspicions or encounter a problem, report it immediately to both the platform and the police.
Conclusion
In a world that is increasingly digitalized, it is important to be aware of the risks involved and take steps to minimize them. The case of 66-year-old Kierspers is a sad example of how fraudsters can cause great damage with small changes. So stay vigilant, inform yourself and don't be blinded by apparent bargains on the Internet.
Source:
Press portal
This might also be of interest:
Artificial crooks: Wave of cloned voices in the world of fraud
Fraud with fake bank details: Deception costs 51-year-olds over 12,000 euros
WhatsApp 120-day rule: Click or kick?
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