Do the following to protect your data:
Some scammers create identical copies of companies' Facebook pages and websites, then conduct supposed prize draws to get victims to enter their details or log in using their password and PINs. A fraudulent transaction is carried out in the course of this, or the victim is called and asked for more details.
Scammers can also imitate the pages of an official Internet bank. Clients can end up there via a link or by using a search engine like Google. Scammers frequently buy ads for their fake websites which place their site at the top of search-engine rankings. That's why fake sites are sometimes easier to find in a search engine than the real sites.
Any data entered on a fake site can enable the scammers to transfer your money, apply for things such as small loans in your name or terminate deposits.
Calls are normally used by scammers for phishing, but they can also be used to try to manipulate victims. The scammers pretend to be bank staff, police or tax officials and typically tell the victim that their bank account has fallen victim to a cyber attack or been misused, that they themselves (i.e. the official they are pretending to be) have fallen victim to something, that an application for a loan needs to be suspended, that someone is trying to hijack their e-mail account or purchase something with their card, that they have questions about transactions, or something along these lines. To prevent this from happening, the victim is asked to enter their PINs, provide their card number or download a programme ‘for security reasons'. The scammers' aim is to gain access to the client's means of authentication so that they can then perform transactions from the client's account which the client themselves had no intention of performing.
How to spot such scams:
Online scams that are designed to gain personal data (user names, passwords, credit card details, etc.) are known as phishing. These scams can take place via e-mail, a link, SMS or chat, on social media or via a fake ad published on the Internet. The scammers' aim is to gain access to the client's means of authentication and/or bank card details so that they can then perform transactions from the client's account which the client themselves had no intention of performing.
How to spot such scams:
Some scammers try to pass themselves off as investment brokers or bank workers, offering high-yield investments in shares, bonds, crypto and the like. They do this over the phone, on social media and elsewhere online. The victim is encouraged to take out a loan and/or install some kind of software (e.g. the AnyDesk programme) with which to monitor the returns on their supposed investment. This way the scammers create an illusion that the victim's money is growing. When the victim indicates that they want to access their funds, they're told they need to pay to do so - and end up losing that money.
How to spot such scams:
Scammers can set up fake profiles on dating sites and apps and on social media (e.g. for a soldier or someone on a humanitarian mission), profess to have romantic intentions or pretend to have found the love of their life.
Their aim is to profit from the good will of the victim by conning them out of money or involving them in a scam themselves. The victim is often dragged into a supposed emergency situation in which they have to transfer money to someone as quickly as possible.
How to spot such scams:
Victims are enticed (usually by e-mail) with ‘news' that they have won a lottery or been identified as the rightful recipient of an inheritance, to claim which they must make some form of payment (a ‘processing fee', notary's fees, etc.) or submit their bank card details.
How to spot such scams:
Scammers post loan offers with very good interest rates on social media. The victim is asked to make pre-payments to cover the loan amount or to pay the contract fees in advance. Bank card details or Internet bank access may also be sought. In some cases, the victim is encouraged to take out a loan in their own name and then to transfer the money to someone else to finance a business scheme or earn additional income for the purposes of investing.
How to spot such scams:
The list above is by no means exhaustive - there are all sorts of scammers out there who'll happily exploit any situation and any weakness, so it pays to keep your wits about you. For example, people who are struggling financially can be scammed and used, as can people who are drunk or otherwise intoxicated. Then there are the fake offers you find online for jobs and goods (which, in the latter case, you pay for but never receive) and the notifications supposedly sent from parcel terminals urging you to click on fraudulent links.
How to spot such scams: