Grandchildren's trick, fake officials or bank employees
Criminals who have personal data repeatedly try to get consumers’ money. The methods range from simple to shocking: as a supposed bank or post office, they ask for additional data by email in order to be able to access money directly, or they pretend to be children or grandchildren who urgently need money. Erk Schaarschmidt from the Brandenburg Consumer Center (VZB) explains what measures consumers can take to protect themselves.
Telephone fraud: Consumer pays for alleged emergency operation
A babble of voices, sirens and a crying child in the background: this was the background noise that a consumer in Brandenburg encountered on the phone when someone told her that her son had had an accident. A short time later, the same person called and asked for money for emergency surgery. The victim, shocked and very worried, paid. And a short time later realized that he had fallen victim to a scam.
“The basis for such acts is often so-called phishing or the use of data that has already been accessed elsewhere,” explains Erk Schaarschmidt, financial expert at VZB. Criminals get consumers to provide their personal information, such as their telephone number, via email or the Internet, for example. They then try directly to either get consumers to make payments or to get bank details so that they can transfer funds themselves.
Set limits
“If you want to limit possible damage from the outset, you can agree a daily transfer limit with your bank that is tailored to your current needs,” advises Schaarschmidt. This could, for example, be significantly less than 1,000 euros. Existing standing orders or previously ordered scheduled transfers do not count. Later changes are possible. “At least if the account is not yet completely in the hands of criminals, the damage can be limited,” explains the expert.
Because limit increases take longer for some banks.
This could give those affected some time to block the account and perhaps prevent higher orders. The overdraft facility and credit card limit can also be adjusted to actual needs. Anyone who suddenly has to transfer several thousand euros to supposed grandchildren or children will also be forced to think again about whether it could be a fraudulent scam.
Avoid international transfers
Basically, alarm bells should ring for those affected if the IBAN to which they are supposed to transfer does not start with DE, but with a foreign identifier, such as AT for Austria (or vice versa - for those who live in Austria), CH for Switzerland or GB for the United Kingdom. GR, RO or EE are often also found as country codes in the IBAN for fraudulent transfers. With this in mind, those affected can still cancel the transfer in good time if they have to make the transfer themselves.
The expert also advises: “Transferring funds that are not needed at short notice to a current account at another bank can help to keep any damage as low as possible.”
Be careful with unexpected calls and emails
Popular methods for accessing data are calls or emails that claim to come from the bank or a well-known company. As a rule of thumb, banks do not call their customers unsolicited or send emails about technical changes.
“If you are unsure whether a call or email actually comes from a specific company, it is best to contact the company using a number that has already been saved or found elsewhere and investigate,” says Schaarschmidt.
Hardly any chance of getting the money back
Under current law, retrieving transfers is almost impossible if consumers have already made the transfer. Banks are obliged to provide customers with all information and, if possible, to try to get the money transferred back. However, the latter usually fails because, in the worst case scenario, the transfer or account is emptied by criminals on the same day.
The consumer advice center has put together tips on how consumers can recognize a phishing email here .
Source:
Consumer advice center BB
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