“Fished” – data theft leaves consumers “floating” . The Chamber of Labor in Austria has published a brochure with this title, which can now be downloaded online.
When invoices or debt collection letters for smartphones, handbags, etc. arrive completely unexpectedly, but you haven't ordered anything, the problems begin - the inquiries in the AK consumer advice department pile up.
“More and more consumers are victims of identity abuse. “Criminals use spied-out personal data to make online purchases or conclude contracts at the expense of their victims,” says AK consumer advocate Jakob Kalina.
Important: Do not ignore invoices or reminders, but rather respond.
Data misuse increasingly affects consumers
Consumers report in the AK consumer advice:
"I received an email from a bank requesting payment of almost 70 euros." "I have never ordered the goods listed.", "I suspect that I am the victim of a fraudster because packages are constantly being delivered that I “I never ordered.”
AK consumer advocate Jakob Kalina:
“More and more consumers are becoming victims of identity abuse. Unknown people order goods on behalf of consumers, buy on account and have the goods sent to another location. All of this initially happens unnoticed by consumers. Only when you, as the invoice recipient, receive an invoice, reminder or debt collection letter does data misuse become apparent to you. The misuse of identity is not only evident in order fraud, but also in fake profiles or fraudulent online offers under other people's names. The “lazy” consumers do not always manage to find a solution with the companies themselves affected by order fraud: they do not believe their accounts. “This sometimes leads to consumers hitting a wall with their attempts to provide information and receiving further reminders and, as a result, debt collection letters,” says Kalina.
It is usually not known where the perpetrators get their victims' data from:
Fraudsters often get their victims' data via phishing.
“It can be a successful data theft in which criminals use fake emails, messages or calls to lure out their victims' personal information. But data leaks from companies, public entries, devices infected with malware or intentional harm to relatives and acquaintances are also a possibility,” says Kalina. “It would be helpful if victims could easily report identity abuse to the police and receive help. That’s not always the case, as they tell us.”
What consumers can do
- React instead of ignoring: If you receive inexplicable invoices and reminders, don't bury your head in the sand, but contradict them in writing. Otherwise, court orders for payment and a downgrade of creditworthiness may occur.
- Be skimpy with data: The best way to protect yourself from identity misuse is to handle your data sparingly and observe security standards in your online presence. This means using strong passwords and using two-factor authentication.
- AK helps: AK consumer advice supports consumers with what they can generally do in the event of identity misuse in order to avoid future damage and, if necessary, also helps victims with letters to companies. It is usually always possible to have the unfounded invoice canceled for you. the AK data theft brochure here or contact us
Article image: Shutterstock / By Pira25
Notes:
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