That’s how quickly you lose your money
Current scams on Paypal, Whatsapp and Co.: Beware of these tricks!
There are many phishing traps online that you should be prepared for. Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
dpa/Karl-Josef Hildenbrand
September 23, 2024 at 09:35
Sophisticated and deceptively real!
Buying or selling something online is convenient and quick – but there are a lot of traps lurking. Even when communicating with people you think you know, there are certain things that should make you sit up and take notice. And now criminals have even found a really old-school way to commit fraud: the letter!
Scam No. 1: Mail from the bank
Fraud by letter: This is what the letter looks like that supposedly comes from the Sparkasse
Savings Bank
Most people have probably heard of phishing emails that criminals use to get their hands on our sensitive data online. For this reason, it seems that new/old methods are being used: Currently, Letters in a deceptively real look and with credible wording in circulation, allegedly sent by the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe.
The recipient is asked to scan a QR code and then update their data online as part of an “identity check”. “Your online banking access data, other personal data and the number of your Sparkasse card/credit card will be requested,” warns the Sparkasse association. But you should not enter these under any circumstances.
The first sign of a fake Sparkasse letter: there may be no postage on the envelope. In some places, such as Berlin, the letters were simply thrown into mailboxes at random, according to Thomas Rienecker from the Sparkasse financial group.
If you receive such a letter: throw it in the trash! Anyone who actually entered data via the QR code should contact the savings bank as soon as possible to have the account blocked.
Reading tip: Beware of spoofing! Fraudsters use this scam to rip off Paypal customers
Scam 2: Paypal – oops, transferred too much!
Be careful with the Paypal option “Friends and Family”!
When trading privately via classified ads, Paypal is often the payment method of choice. However, there are traps that far too many buyers still fall into, such as the so-called triangle scam. But even those who sell something themselves should take a close look – especially with this trick:
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The buyer transfers – allegedly by mistake – a much higher amount than agreed via Paypal.
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The seller is politely informed of the “mistake” and asked to return the overpaid amount via the “Friends and Family” function.
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If this is done, the trap snaps shut – because the original, excessive transfer was sent by the buyer via “goods and services”. Using this function, he or she can request the full amount back from PayPal. As a seller, you have therefore paid twice!
If the money was first transferred via “friends and family”, there is no chance of getting it back, explains Paypal itself. The only way to prevent such fraud is to transfer the amount requested back using the “Send refund” function. Paypal will then handle the process – and can intervene in an emergency.
Video tip: Simone falls for nasty Paypal scam
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Scam 3: The Whatsapp code
This is where you should pay attention!
State Criminal Police Office of Lower Saxony
A sad perennial favorite among the fraud schemes is the Single trickwhich has now been expanded to include a parenting scam. Scammers use SMS or WhatsApp to pretend to be the recipient’s daughter or son – supposedly with a new number and acute money problems, which they then want to help out with.
Currently, however, there is also the following perfidious method: A friend contacts you on Whatsapp. He or she has accidentally Code by SMS sent to the recipient – could it please be forwarded to them quickly?
But behind it are gangs of fraudsters who have already hacked the girlfriend or boyfriend’s account and are just waiting for the next person to fall into the trap. Because they can use the code to gain access to the victim’s WhatsApp account – and subsequently, in the worst case, to all accounts where verification via SMS is possible, such as Instagram or Paypal.
Therefore: If in doubt, always call your friend directly before sending something. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also activate two-factor authentication on WhatsApp. Without a PIN you have assigned yourself, your account cannot then be transferred to another smartphone. (rka)
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