Suspicious packages and outstanding pension payments – new phone tricks used by fraudsters

Regardless of whether the perpetrators pose as Microsoft, Europol/Interpol, the local police, competitions, subscription services or family members (keyword “grandchild trick”), unsuspecting victims always fall for these scams.

In recent days, the police have been informed by members of the public about similar calls they have received. Here the perpetrators pretended to come from a supposedly German authority. There would be a suspicious package delivery that is supposed to have something to do with the person you called. According to our whistleblower, the caller spoke English. The whistleblower then ended the conversation by hanging up due to suspected fraud.

Another person told us that the callers had contacted us several times. There would be a recall campaign by the pension fund so that the overpaid pension payments would be reclaimed. The callers asked for a refund.

The perpetrators are always inventive and come up with new, sometimes plausible stories.

Regardless of who is pretending to be customer service, a government agency or other person on the phone, you should be careful:

• Do not give any information about your private circumstances to unknown people. Do not provide sensitive data such as ID and address details, customer details (including passwords), banking and payment details.
• Do not confirm any data if it is to be queried and compared over the phone by unexpected callers. Don’t let clever questions elicit a “yes” or confirmation/correction of data.
• If in doubt, call the real support/contact numbers (e.g. your bank, phone provider, local police, etc.). To do this, use phone numbers and contact options that you already have or know from official sources. Do not use contact options that you have received unsolicited in emails. When you hear the word “grandchild trick,” contact your family using alternative means!
• Question yourself the claims made in the calls. (e.g. did I even take part in a competition or lottery in Spain?)
• Have you previously contacted customer service with a personal concern (e.g. change of address details or faulty telephone connection) and are you expecting this callback?
• Telephone numbers that are shown on the telephone display can be manipulated using computer technology. Among other things, numbers from real providers (e.g. local police or the emergency number) are displayed. Mobile phone numbers are increasingly being shown on the display. These are usually not real either. It is possible that a call back from the numbers displayed would lead to nothing or that an unsuspecting person whose number was unfortunately accidentally misused would answer. Toll numbers/foreign numbers are also possible. For this reason, you should not call back phone numbers without checking them.
• Do not be tempted to install any software or access websites. There is a risk that the perpetrators will gain access to your computer and manipulate it. (With the Microsoft scam, such an action can even occur through a fake message on the monitor (e.g. in the browser).)
• Don't let yourself be put under pressure! Perpetrators threaten to make false claims with high penalties or financial costs if the request is not followed. Such allegations can also arrive by email (example here: Europol summons or customs authority )
• Never send sensitive documents (e.g. photo of ID, bank card, registration certificate, etc.) and unknown people via email/message service. If necessary, such documents can be shown and checked on site (e.g. at a bank branch, police station, etc.).

If you have already fallen for one of these scams, inform the local police and, if a crime has been committed, report it. You should also inform your bank if you have given out sensitive payment data. For example, if you have specified a password, change this in the provider's corresponding portal and, to be on the safe side, contact the real support.

If possible, record as much information about the conversation in writing. Even if the phone number is most likely fake, write it down. Remember how the person came forward (name, company/authority, language, accent…) and what the person specifically claimed.

Where did the perpetrators get my data?

The sources for such data can be diverse. These can come from public telephone books (digital/analog) (including older editions). You may have taken part in a competition once and the provider passed on this data (with or without your consent). Perpetrators repeatedly hack companies so that large data sets from customers end up in circulation. Perhaps you have also made this data public yourself (e.g. on a club or company website, via social media, etc.). Sometimes the perpetrators manage to find out the information they need themselves through clever questions and assertions (“Grandma, I need your help!” “Klaus? Is it you?”)

We have summarized a few options for your own research here: Data check , My data on the internet , and other links (the last section in the list)

Here are a few links to the typical stitches:

• Microsoft Support
• Fake police officers
• Grandchildren trick
• Promise of profit
• Advertising calls

Article image: Unsplash
Source: LKA Lower Saxony

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