A subsidy program from the Federal Ministry of Finance promises to compensate for inflation.
But it is a deceptively real scam.
Munich – Many people suffer from inflation and have existential fears.
With a new scam, cyber criminals want to use this misery of the people to their advantage and enrich themselves from them.
The consumer protection center warns of phishing mails in which subsidy programs are advertised that are intended to compensate for inflation.
But even if the emails look real, fraud is lurking behind them, consumer advocates warn.
Particular caution is therefore required with the following notes.
"Due to the persistent inflation in Germany (...) we would like to introduce you to the NextGenerationEU package of measures (...) worth 750 billion euros," says the email from the scammer, which is said to come from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The package of measures is intended to give citizens who convert their money into digital euros a 29 percent subsidy from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
In this way, the purchasing power lost due to inflation should be strengthened again.
Phishing mail promises inflation compensation through the Ministry of Finance's subsidy program
The deceptive thing about it: the funding project actually exists.
Therefore, consumers can quickly fall for such an email.
However, according to the consumer protection agency, the fraudsters have added a few functions to the actual EU program.
The citizens should then enter their data on the website of the Ministry of Finance.
This page looks very similar to the original website, but the fraud can be identified by the following misspelling: "bundesminsiterium-der-finanzen.com".
But such a small spelling mistake - "Federal
Ministry
" instead of "Federal Ministry" - can quickly be overlooked;
especially by those who are in need.
+
Consumer protection center warns against fraud with subsidy programs and inflation protection
© Westend61/IMAGO
There is said to be a very similar offer from the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW).
Here, too, scammers are sending fake emails from KfW and offering an inflation compensation program, which is also intended to invest in digital currency.
The phishing email contains a link that asks for personal information.
People who have entered data under the links in the phishing emails should contact the police immediately.
This can take up the case and try to trace the perpetrators back.
However, according to the consumer protection center, possible damage is not foreseeable.
The scammers could steal the identity and use it to make contracts or purchases.
Providing bank details could also result in money being stolen.
Therefore, it is better to react quickly and, if necessary, to inform the bank in order to prevent possible debits.
Consumer center warns of phishing scams: How to deal with them
The first emails of this type attracted attention as early as September.
The strangers forged e-mails from the Sparkasse to ask for personal data.
The reason for the e-mail was the payment of an energy flat rate, which the savings banks would pay out on behalf of the government.
Customers were then forwarded to the Sparkasse's alleged homepage to confirm their data.
Savings banks have to protect themselves more and more from fraudsters, both at the machines and online.
The fraudsters try to get hold of personal data not only by email, but also by SMS.
Data such as bank details should be entered via a so-called "pushTan 2.0 registration".
Customers should also be able to access their online banking via a link.
In general, the consumer advice center advises the following for such mails or SMS:
Never click on the link provided in the email or SMS
.
Better go to the official website in the internet browser.
Do not answer.
Move e-mails to the
spam folder for your own protection.
In the case of an SMS, the
phone number can be blocked
.
Apple users have also received messages in the past few days saying that the i-Cloud storage is full and that it can be expanded.
Bank details should also be entered via a link, but this was also a scam.
If you receive a phishing e-mail, you can forward it to the e-mail address of the consumer advice center.
Phishing e-mails are collected at
phishing@ Verbraucherzentrale.nrw
in order to analyze scams and to be able to better warn against them.
(mima)
List of rubrics: © Westend61/IMAGO
