It's a sunny afternoon as I unsuspectingly scroll through my Facebook feed. Suddenly my eyes fall on a shocking post: “ He was distracted with his cell phone and the accident was very unfortunate” . My curiosity is piqued, but my alarm bells are already ringing. Why does such a traffic accident call not appear in the regional media?
The perfidious “traffic accident” – phishing trap scam
The Facebook post not only shows a short text, but also photos of alleged traffic accidents. It looks authentic, but something makes me doubt it. I follow the link and end up on a website that asks me to log in to Facebook. This should ring alarm bells for every user.

Why should I log in to Facebook again if I'm already on the platform?

A small discrepancy that puzzles me. But the most perfidious thing about this phishing trap is the fake login page. It's similar to Facebook down to the smallest detail, but puts my login details in the hands of fraudsters.
Recognize the warning signs
The story behind the alleged traffic accident is fictional. One should always be suspicious if such reports do not come from official sources. In particular, calls for witnesses or calls for help after accidents are usually distributed via regional media or official police channels. Inaccurate information in such texts should raise additional doubts.
Such phishing traps appear again and again in which fraudsters want to trick people into disclosing their personal data. They invent train accidents, plane crashes, traffic accidents and even stories about alleged missing children in order to exploit the trustworthiness of users.
How you can protect yourself from phishing traps
- Distrust unverified reports : If a report does not come from official authorities or trustworthy sources, you should view it with skepticism.
- Check the source : Pay attention to whether the information was published in regional media or by official police channels. These information are often missing in fraudulent reports.
- Be wary of inaccurate information : Phishing traps often contain vague and inaccurate information. The more spectacular the story sounds, the more likely it is that fraudsters are at work.
- Watch out for suspicious URLs : Check the URL of the website you're supposed to log in to. If it doesn't belong to the official site or looks suspicious, abort the process.
- Use strong passwords : Use strong passwords that consist of a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. Also use a unique password for each online account.
- Keep your software up to date : Regular updates to operating systems and security programs close security gaps and protect you from potential threats.
And where did the picture from the aforementioned Facebook status post come from?
The picture itself is NOT FAKE! This is a recording of a real accident that occurred in California (USA) in 2022! At least one person was injured in a three-vehicle crash at Valley Ford Road and Highway 1 west of Petaluma on Thursday, May 19, 2022. ( Source )
Journalist Beth Schlanker of The Press Democrat even published this incident on Twitter in 2022.
3 car accident at Valley Ford Rd and Hwy 1 in Sonoma Co. @NorthBayNews pic.twitter.com/lwCcCxP1Xi
— Beth Schlanker (@BethSchlanker) May 19, 2022
Conclusion
The story of the alleged traffic accident turns out to be a perfidious phishing trap. It's important to be vigilant and recognize the warning signs. The official authorities usually disseminate calls for witnesses or assistance after accidents through the regional media or their official channels. Phishing traps exploit our good faith to get our personal information.
Do not be fooled! Always check sources and be skeptical of unverified information. The security of our data is in our hands. Protect yourself from phishing traps and stay up to date on current scams.
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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 )

