Advance fee fraud – the wolf in sheep’s clothing

On the Internet we often come across a wealth of information, contacts and opportunities. But just as the World Wide Web offers us knowledge and friendships, it also brings risks.

Advance fee fraud in particular has caught many online users off guard.
But what is behind this scam? You're surfing Facebook and suddenly stumble upon a heartbreaking comment from a stranger. He wants to donate his fortune. An example:

“Sorry for this method of contact,
I am sharing this information in this way because I want to donate my wealth to a person who believes in GOD.
Apparently I am suffering from terminal throat cancer, my treating doctor has just informed me that my days are numbered due to my deteriorating health. I plan to donate all my assets because I have a sum of 585,000 euros in my account and don't want to leave it to the bank. I'm looking for someone who can inherit my fortune. So if anyone is interested in inheriting my property, they can contact me via email to have more reasons for my donation. Email: mullergabriela54@gmail.com THANK YOU.”

It would be easy to believe these words, but unfortunately there is often a deception behind them.

What exactly is advance fee fraud?

First things first: An advance fee scam attempts to lure a person by promising them large sums of money or other benefits. The hook? In order to get the promised assets, the victim must first pay “small” amounts.

The many faces of advance fee fraud

  • The sad story
    The Facebook example above cleverly plays with our emotions. Often wrapped in stories about serious illnesses or tragic fates, attempts are made to exploit our compassion.
  • Lottery winnings and inheritances
    The phone rings. An unknown voice informs you of a sudden lottery win. But to get the money you have to pay a fee. Does this sound familiar? This method is also often used.
  • The romantic scam
    In times of Tinder and the like, fraudsters are booming. You pose as the perfect partner on dating platforms. But once trust is established, it's all about the real goal: money.

Recognize red flags

How can you navigate this digital minefield?

  • Unexpected Contact Requests : A complete stranger offering you money should always arouse suspicion in you.
  • Spelling and grammatical errors : Quickly thrown together messages can often be exposed by their poor quality or errors in translations.
  • Urgency : When pressure builds to act immediately, your alarm bells should ring.

How can you protect yourself?

  • Trust your gut feeling : This is often a good “intuition” when it comes to uncovering inconsistencies.
  • Do not share personal information : your data belongs to you! Don't give them away lightly.
  • Report suspicious activity : Every report helps protect others and stop scammers.

Conclusion

Although the Internet is a treasure trove of knowledge and contacts, it also has its dark sides. However, with a critical eye, a healthy distrust and being well informed, it is possible to effectively arm yourself against the dangers and move safely through the vastness of the Internet.

Help us make our online community safer! Download the attached sharepic and share it on your Facebook feed or stories. The more people we can reach with this, the safer our digital world will become. Always remember: think first, then click!

MIMIKAMA

This might also interest you:

The invisible danger on the Internet: On the trail of the psychology of Internet traps
E-mail fraud: Protection against online blackmail
Online banking in the crosshairs: How to pull the plug on the fraudsters!


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )