Foreign buyer falls victim to fraud: junk car instead of dream car!

Foreign buyer falls victim to fraud: junk car instead of dream car!

Today, July 14, 2025, an incident in St. Gangloff caused a stir, which once again shows how important mindfulness is when buying online. A man from abroad discovered an ad for a car on a well-known advertising portal and quickly contacted the seller. During the negotiations, the two agreed on a deposit of 300 euros, which the buyer immediately decided and transferred. But when he arrived at the designated meeting point, he was very disappointed: instead of the vehicle he was expecting, he only found a scrap vehicle.

The seller subsequently refused to refund the deposit paid. Everything points to the man being a victim of fraud. In order to defend himself against these machinations, he immediately filed a police report. This will now check whether a criminal offense has occurred. Loud news.de The report was published by the Jena State Police Inspectorate.

How do you deal with fraud cases?

In cases like this, it is reassuring to know that the procedure is clearly defined. “A criminal complaint can be filed with a police authority, public prosecutor’s office or district court,” explains the Consumer advice center. It is particularly important that certain information must be provided when reporting, such as the personal details of the person making the report, the facts of the case from their perspective and the exact description of the perpetrator. In addition, the place and time of the incident should be specified.

The ability to file a report online makes it even easier to act quickly. The police are calling for every case of internet fraud to be reported immediately, but a personal visit is advisable in complicated cases. Especially in the case of suspicious email addresses or internet fraud, it is important to report activities as early as possible in order to forestall other potential victims.

Protection against internet fraud

So what can buyers do to avoid falling into the trap of scammers? The PC specialist has some useful tips in store to protect yourself from online fraud. Make sure the addresses match with PayPal payments and insure the shipping of goods. Be suspicious of alleged lottery winnings and check unknown online shops thoroughly. When it comes to suspicious offers, skepticism is a buyer's best friend.

Finally, it should be emphasized that feedback and reporting of internet fraud is extremely important in order to protect not only yourself but also other users. In times of increasing cybercrime, vigilance is and remains the best weapon.