You receive a call from the “Federal Consumer Association”. The voice on the other end of the line sounds professional, informs you about the current electricity price debate and offers you the opportunity to continue purchasing cheap electricity.
But be careful – it could be an attempted scam! In Schleswig-Holstein and other parts of Germany there are increasing reports of calls from alleged consumer protection groups who are after your personal data.
No consumer protection: The fraudsters' scam
The fraudsters, who often answer with a Berlin phone number, seem authentic: They know your name, your address and ask for your meter number.
The goal? To obtain your data in order to conclude contracts on your behalf without your consent.
Stefan Bock, board member of the VZSH, emphasizes: “Consumer advice centers never make unsolicited contact by telephone or other contact. Our advice only takes place at the request of those seeking advice.”
What happens to the data?
With the stolen data, fraudsters can cancel your energy supplier and sign new contracts without you noticing. The fraud is often only noticed when unexpected mail arrives from a new energy supplier or the final bill from the old supplier.
Caution and countermeasures
Be skeptical if you receive unsolicited calls from consumer protection. Verify the caller's identity and do not reveal any personal information. If in doubt, contact the real consumer protection agency: the consumer advice center .
If you have fallen victim to such a scam, act quickly to effectively defend yourself against unwanted contract changes.
Conclusion: Stay alert!
This fraud attempt is a clear example of how criminals abuse the good reputation of institutions to gain trust. Your best defense is vigilance and a willingness to ask questions when in doubt. Please contact the consumer advice center before disclosing personal information.
Source: consumer advice center
Stay informed and subscribe to the Mimikama newsletter . You can also use our media educational offerings to protect yourself from such and similar fraud attempts. Knowledge is power – especially in the fight against fraud and disinformation.
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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 )