Online fraud in Mainz: Warning of dangerous WhatsApp scam!

Online fraud in Mainz: Warning of dangerous WhatsApp scam!

A seemingly tempting offer turned out to be an expensive trap for a man from Mainz. On July 14th he lost around 4,000 euros due to a sophisticated online fraud in connection with a holiday booking. The injured party discovered an advertisement on booking.com and was asked to conduct all communication via WhatsApp, while requests via the platform were ignored. Criminal structures, which often appear as reputable providers in such a scam, often offer victims new, supposedly cheaper booking options via external channels, such as in this case via TripAdvisor.

After the man provided the provider with his personal information via a link sent to him, he was asked to transfer almost 4,000 euros to an Italian bank account. After the transfer, any contact via WhatsApp was suddenly no longer possible and the ad disappeared. The falling suspicion of fraud led to a warning from the police about the increasing number of scams in holiday bookings. Another alarming point is that criminals use such schemes to access data or payments.

Police tips to avoid fraud

The local authorities strongly recommend that you stick to official platforms when booking accommodation and use the booking platforms' communication channels and payment options. Particular caution is required if providers claim to only want to communicate via messenger services. In addition, payments to foreign accounts should be avoided at all costs, especially if the provider appears dubious.

Here are some police safety tips that can prove extremely helpful:

• Nutzen Sie nur die offiziellen Kommunikationskanäle von Buchungsplattformen.
• Seien Sie vorsichtig bei Angeboten, die über Messenger-Dienste laufen und alleinige Zahlungserfordernisse aufweisen.
• Erwägen Sie sichere Zahlungsmethoden, wie Kreditkarten oder PayPal, die Käuferschutz bieten.
• Bei Verdacht auf Betrug sollten Sie sofort die Polizei kontaktieren oder über den Notruf 110 Hilfe anfordern.

The machinations of the fraudsters

As well as from 1and1 Reportedly, criminals use sophisticated methods to lure holidaymakers into a trap. Real reservation details and names are even used to simulate the authenticity of the offers. Security expert Christian Lueg emphasizes that it is extremely important not to click on links in messages from alleged hotels and not to disclose sensitive data outside of secured systems.

The Saxony Consumer Center also points out that many fake job advertisements are published that are often too good to be true. The information provided is often incomplete or misleading in terms of reliability. Only healthy skepticism can help here: ignore offers that require immediate commitments.

Ultimately, it remains important to be vigilant and protect your own data. Because, as recent incidents show, the danger is real and fraudsters know exactly how to approach and lure their victims.