The Internet has been changing the world and our purchasing behavior for around 30 years. We used to go to the shopping center or second-hand store to browse, but today we shop comfortably on the couch, using our cell phone or tablet.
More and more of these virtual stores are offering their own payment methods. This is intended to ensure a secure payment process and protect you from fraud. Unfortunately, criminals are creative and copy these payment methods to con you out of your money.
This is how the scam works using the example of paying via eBay classifieds
You offer something for sale through a classified ad or a second hand shop. Criminals contact you - usually via the WhatsApp messenger service - and say they want to buy this item. When it comes to paying, the buyer suggests “secure payment” from eBay Classifieds. All other payment methods are rejected for plausible reasons.
In fact, “Pay Securely” from eBay Classifieds is also very safe because the money is paid to a trustee. This informs the selling person when payment has been received and the goods can be sent. If the buyer reports that the goods have arrived, the person selling receives their money. This is a safe method for everyone involved – as long as the payment actually goes through “Pay Securely” and is not fraudulent!
In the case of fraud described here, however, you will receive a link to retrieve the purchase price where you simply need to provide your access or credit card details. After subsequent approval with your banking app or a TAN, you will be promised credit.
On the linked page you will also find a note about technical support, which you can usually contact to get assistance with payment processing. You are given apparently plausible reasons to make various approvals. These transactions do not match the display in your app or internet banking? Support even has an excuse for that.
What actually happens?
With the linked page you do not log in to the official payment method. This is a page specially created by criminals that is only there to store your access or card details. Under the pretext of requesting the credit of the purchase price, you are supposed to provide this confidential data.
This is what criminals actually do with it:
- Payments with your credit card are prepared online.
- Mobile payments (e.g. Apple Pay or Google Pay) are set up on the fraudsters' smartphones
- Criminals' smartphones are stored in your account as a release procedure.
Of course, this cannot be done without your approval, which you are persuaded to do under a pretext with seemingly plausible reasons. It is therefore very important that you always pay attention to which transaction or recipient is displayed directly in the release: In your online banking or the app, each time you release it, it will be displayed which transaction you are currently confirming.
If you are unsure about a transaction or release, check your account transactions to see what actually happened.
Criminals pose as buyers and sellers on the respective platforms
Our example explains how sellers are cheated. But this can also happen to you if you buy items: The criminals also suggest the payment method and claim that you have to register once via a link and enter your data. The actual transfer or card payment must be approved with your banking app or a TAN…. And of course this doesn't just happen when paying via eBay classifieds - other platforms such as Vinted are also copied as a basis for fraud.
How to protect yourself from this:
- start payment or your banking from a link , regardless of whether you received it via email, WhatsApp or another channel.
- Always use the official app or start the payment directly on the payment provider's website . A payment via eBay classifieds, for example, is always initiated in the official chat on the eBay website or app.
- If you release a transaction with your banking app or the photoTAN generator, check the transaction directly in the release . This is written directly above the release – e.g. “You are giving Banking to go access to your accounts on another device”. If in doubt, cancel the process.
- It is also very important that you always keep an eye on your account transactions and check what is happening there. Even if the criminals claim otherwise: no bank in the world will show you a transfer if the process has been canceled. A good way to always check sales is push notifications in banking apps. This means you will receive a message on your smartphone display every time you make a booking on your checking account.
Read how you can best protect yourself and what to do if you have fallen for a scam: Warning: online shopping scams
Source: ING.de
Also read: Rip-off on Ebay classifieds with fake site and Ebay courier service
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