As of: April 5, 2024, 5:14 a.m
By: Christoph Gschoßmann, Michelle Brey
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A scam is rampant online on sales platforms. Buyers want to use “fake courier services” to get the sellers’ money and data.
Bremen – Criminals try it again and again, people always fall for it. Scams like the grandchild trick often cause a stir. The BKA also recently warned of a dangerous email scam. And people also run the risk of becoming victims of fraud on online portals where users make purchases or sell things themselves. A
WDR
consumer program has now uncovered a new scam on classified ads (formerly eBay classifieds) and Facebook Marketplace. It's about “so-called fake courier services,” says the
WDR
consumer program Markt on Wednesday (April 3). What do users have to prepare for?
Classifieds and Facebook Marketplace: Fraudsters claim to send parcel services
The
WDR
posed as a seller and advertised an office chair for 35 euros in classified ads and Facebook Marketplace. On the latter platform, a user quickly accepts the price, but then sends the message: “I'm a little busy with work at the moment, so I would like to send a Nacex postman to your home to deliver your money personally.”
A fraudulent message in a sales portal conversation. © Screenshot WDR
The potential buyer asks if that is okay. Other inquiries come in and the content is similar: sometimes a GLS courier, sometimes Hermes, sometimes a Fedex employee should come by. The
WDR
team apparently responds
to a request, according to the TV report.
Fraud on the Internet – LKA makes it clear: “At the latest when you pay in advance” you should stay away from the deal
The Düsseldorf State Criminal Police Office explains to
WDR
how you can recognize these fake delivery services. If a courier service comes and not the buyer himself, Stefanie Lösing from the LKA NRW is already ringing “alarm bell number one”. The suspicious buyer gets in touch again and explains that the parcel service is sending an email. He then asks for a screenshot of the email. A fake email that looks like it comes from the alleged courier service Nacex.
It explains in strange wording that 50 euros in expenses have to be paid. “At the very latest if you have to make advance payments,” Lösing told
WDR
, you should keep your hands off the deal. In this case, the fake was probably easy to spot, but in the future - also with the help of artificial intelligence - the fakes will probably look more and more deceptively real. In any case, according to the LKA, users should avoid clicking on links. This would virtually invite cybercriminals.
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“Immediately report it”: Tips from the consumer advice center for scams
On its official website, the consumer advice center provides tips on how those affected by fraud can be helped. In this way, people close to them could make it clear to them “how important it is to report this incident immediately.” This is important, even though “many of those affected are ashamed that they fell for fraudsters and lost money as a result.”
Another scam in classified ads recently revolved around concert tickets.
(cgsc, mbr)