Danger! Police warn of perfidious WhatsApp fraud stitches in Bautzen

Danger! Police warn of perfidious WhatsApp fraud stitches in Bautzen

In Cologne and the surrounding area, caution is advised: the police in Upper Lusatia urge to warn of a current fraud stitch that is spread via WhatsApp. As reported MDR, several fraud ads have been received in the Bautzen district since the end of June 2023. The injured party received messages via WhatsApp or SMS from supposed WhatsApp numbers that asked them to click on a link or enter a verification code. The aim of these fraudsters is to get access to WhatsApp accounts to steal sensitive data such as passwords and pin codes.

The fraudsters not only use these access data to ask for money, but also have great interest in the contacts of the injured party. In many cases, after clicking on the link or confirming the code, these have lost control of their WhatsApp account. Interestingly, these are often non-German Ibans to which the required funds are to be transferred. Therefore, the police advise not to communicate via messenger when it comes to a business, but rather to reach directly for the phone.

tips to secure the WhatsApp account

In the case of a chopped WhatsApp account, there are two ways to restore the account. Either you log in via an internet browser and unlock the account again or you delete the old account and create a new one. The police also appeal to all users: go sensitively with social messenger services. Profile images should only be released for trustworthy contacts and skepticism about unknown numbers is advisable. The use of an antivirus program for mobile phones and the activation of a PIN for two-factor authentication are also recommended.

But whatsapp is not the only danger: another trend is the so -called "shock calls". Here, fraudsters are close to relatives who are in an emergency, as reported by the Federal Criminal Police Office. The perpetrators put victims under pressure by stating that a relative needs a high sum in a dangerous situation to avert legal problems. In this way, horrendous amounts of up to 100,000 euros are often required, with the callers skilfully taking over several roles during the conversation to increase credibility.

Caution in suspicious contacts

In the digital world, the fraud stitches on Facebook Messenger should not be underestimated. According to [chip] (https://praxtstipps.chip.de/betrugsmasmschmahm-beim-facebook-messenger-kellen-unde-- undreicht-handeln_177359) there are often signs of fraud. This includes unexpected contacts from unknown people who demand personal information or money, as well as fake profiles that build emotional bonds to ask for money for alleged emergencies. It is important to always remain skeptical about offers that sound too good to be true.

If fraud was suspected, it is best to stay calm and not to follow the measures asked. Suspicious messages should be reported to the platform immediately and no personal information should be disclosed. It is also advisable to inform acquaintances about such attempts to fraud and to consult the police in case of doubt.

The spread of these fraud stitches clearly shows how important it is to remain vigilant in the digital age and to take your own data protection seriously. It is advisable to regularly find out about new fraud stitches and to heart the tips mentioned above so as not to become victims of criminals.