- Police warn of internet investment fraud
The Osnabrück Police is warning about multi-million dollar fraud cases involving unserious capital investments via the internet. This year alone, over 60 people in the Osnabrück area have filed complaints, with total damages amounting to nearly three million euros, the police reported.
The authority refers to this as "Cybertrading Fraud". Scammers use internet ads, social media, cold calls, or mass emails to encourage their victims to invest in stocks or cryptocurrencies, promising high returns. However, the police say the money is not invested but ends up in criminal networks.
The criminals use specially created investment platforms for online trading to access their victims' money, the police said. These platforms appear professional and legitimate at first glance. The perpetrators usually operate from abroad, exploiting the inexperience of their victims. The police advise people to always research platforms, not share sensitive data, and seek advice.
Despite the professional appearance of these fraudulent investment platforms, they are often used by criminals to access victims' funds. Unfortunately, the bridge between the victims' savings and the criminal networks is often the trusted-looking online trading platform.
