Consumer protection - Minister urges caution with dubious monetary claims
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Consumer Protection Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt has called for particular caution in the face of telephone and internet fraudsters. "Fraud attempts are becoming increasingly perfidious and varied. Especially now during the Advent season, text messages, WhatsApp messages and emails are popping up to defraud consumers of money," said Bernhardt on Tuesday, explaining her appeal. There are many indications of such fraudulent messages. According to Wiebke Cornelius, head of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern consumer advice center, the number of inquiries received by the advice centers has more than doubled this year.
A widespread method is that the supposed child has a new telephone number and is in an emergency situation, which is why money should be transferred, explained Bernhardt. But messages that the parcel could not be delivered because the address was missing also made the rounds. "You have to be particularly careful here, because a lot of parcels are sent in the run-up to Christmas. It's easy to lose track of things and then the trap snaps shut."
Even if you are asked to enter your account details via a link, you need to be extremely careful. "As a rule, a reputable bank will not ask you to disclose account details and similar information via email and links," emphasized Bernhardt and advised people to check with their bank, mail order company or children. Anyone who has nevertheless been defrauded should not hesitate to call the police. In general, a healthy distrust of messages from senders whose numbers are unknown is advisable, emphasized Cornelius.
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Source: www.stern.de
