As of: January 31, 2024, 1:20 p.m
By: Vivian Werg
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Unwanted calls can not only be annoying, they can also be expensive - if fraudsters are after your money.
Lotto players have to be careful now.
Chemnitz – Attempts at fraud repeatedly cause concern.
Be it fake shops when shopping online, a wave of fraud at various banks or fraudulent calls - criminals use any means to get their victims' savings and valuables.
Older people in particular are often deprived of their assets and trust with nasty scams.
New scam circulating – lottery players need to be careful
As a press release from Sächsische Lotto-GmbH on Friday (January 26th) shows, a new scam is now targeting lottery players.
According to the company's own information, "an increasing number of dubious calls have been reported in the Chemnitz administrative region in particular."
The Federal Criminal Police Office expressly warns on its website against fraudulent promises of winnings over the telephone.
Fraudulent phone calls – how you can protect yourself from dubious calls (symbolic image) © Andrey Popov/ Imago
This is how you can protect yourself against telephone fraud
In the currently reported scam, the fraudsters pose as employees of the lottery company and try to obtain sensitive data such as their victims' bank details under a pretext.
Telephone fraud is a serious problem and, according to the aid organization Weisser Ring, around 793,622 cases of fraud were reported in Germany in 2021.
This also includes “telephone fraud that causes significant financial damage”.
Some numbers are spam calls and you should definitely not answer them.
The aid organization gives citizens the following tips:
Have a healthy level of suspicion when a stranger calls you.
If anything seems strange, hang up immediately.
Don't get drawn into a conversation and be careful with your data.
Do not answer personal questions.
Do not accept any demands for money or give money or valuables to strangers.
Talk to family and friends about fraud on the phone, especially with the older generation.
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In order to increase credibility, not only are the phone numbers specifically manipulated, but artificial intelligence (AI) is also used to deceive the victims - Europol has already urged caution.
Use these clues to recognize lottery fraud
The lottery company also emphasized that Sachsenlotto employees never call unsolicited.
Bank details are also never requested from employees over the phone, nor are they asked for personal details.
If the slightest doubt arises during the conversation that it is a dubious call, those affected should hang up immediately and contact the Sächsische Lotto-GmbH customer service.
Unauthorized advertising calls are annoying and, according to the Federal Network Agency, prohibited without your consent.
“If there is proof of a crime, fines of up to 300,000 euros can be imposed,” says the Federal Network Agency.
A 101-year-old grandma wasn't fooled and played the grandchild's trick - leading the fraudster straight into the arms of the police.
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