Ever heard of the ancient story of the Trojan Horse? A gift that actually hides a threat. The situation is similar with a current scam using “Pay Securely” on classified ads .

From supposed buyer to attacker

It starts innocently enough: an interested party gets in touch. He is enthusiastic about the item on offer and wants to buy it as quickly as possible. But then comes the catch: He wants to use the “Secure Pay” function and needs your email address. Do you have any idea where this is leading?

The fallacy of security in “Pay Securely”

Many people think that the “Pay Secure” feature is an additional protection against fraudsters. In fact, it can become a gateway if you're not careful. The trick is so perfidious because it exploits exactly the function that is actually supposed to ensure more security. The scammers hide behind the positively rated profiles that they have hijacked and thus create a camouflage.

Fake emails: The trick in the details

If the fraudster has the email address, the next step follows: A phishing email that looks deceptively real ends up in the seller's inbox. At first glance it seems to come straight from classified ads. But be careful! Click on the link in this email and you will land on a fake page that has only one goal: your credit card details.

How do I recognize attempted fraud?

Alarm bells should start ringing when a buyer asks for their email address to use the Secure Pay feature. A real buyer would never do this, they would use this service directly on the platform. In addition, the function then does exactly the opposite of what the fraudster claims to do: the user's data is protected and not queried!

What should I do if I fell in?

First, take a deep breath. Inform your bank. Change all passwords. Report the incident to Classifieds. Report this to the police. Only when such incidents become known is it possible to do something about them.

Conclusion

Protect instead of anger.
Sure, online sales can be convenient. But you should also be aware of the downsides. Therefore: Always be vigilant and ask again if you are unsure.

This might also interest you:

Lauterbach’s “Recommendation Cold and Moisture Protection Plan” in a fact check
Warning!
Warning on behalf of Dr. Matthias Losert The invisible danger on the Internet: On the trail of the psychology of Internet traps


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