Scammers pose as lawyers. The consumer advice center warns!

Many consumers are currently reporting to the Brandenburg Consumer Center (VZB) who have allegedly received a warning. In the email you are accused of having committed a copyright infringement, which is supposed to be proven by documents in the attached zip file. The VZB warns: Do not open attachments!

False warnings about alleged copyright infringement are making the rounds in Brandenburg. The rip-off artists appear under different names, for example the Becker Law Firm and Dr. Scholz GmbH, law firm Maier & Schumacher GmbH, law firm of Prof. Dr. Hoffmann & Prof. Dr. Möller, lawyers Klein + Vogel or law firm Zimmermann + Frank.

Malware

The email accuses those affected of unlawfully streaming an erotic video. You will be asked to open the attached zip file, which supposedly contains evidence data, a cease-and-desist declaration and bank details of the law firm. “Recipients of this fake email should under no circumstances open the attachment,” says Michèle Scherer, digital world expert at VZB. “The zip file probably contains malware. Anyone who opens the file risks having their computer infected.”

“Anyone who receives such a supposed payment request should not panic, but simply delete the email,” says Scherer. To prevent attacks, it is important to keep protection programs such as anti-virus software or firewalls up to date. “Consumers should also create an external data backup and update it regularly,” advises the consumer advocate.

The Brandenburg Consumer Center has put together further information on how to recognize fraudulent emails at www.verbraucherzentrale-brandenburg.de/gefaehrliche-e-mail-anhaenge .

If you are not sure whether a claim is justified, you can also contact the Brandenburg Consumer Center individually.

Those affected receive advice

  • in the consumer advice centers, make an appointment on 0331 / 98 22 999 5 (Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or online at www.vzb.de/termine ,
  • on the advice line on 09001 / 775 770 (Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1 €/min from German landline, mobile phone varies) and
  • via email advice at www.vzb.de/emailberatung

Content via Consumer Center Brandenburg


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