The online trade is booming-and attracts criminals. Again and again consumers become fraud victims. That can be expensive.
Fake shops on the Internet regularly attract consumers: Inside: Almost a quarter of the population (24 percent) has already become the victim of online fraud, as a survey on behalf of Schufa among 1,000 adults showed in February. Just as many people (25 percent) know a person in their area who has already happened.
The damage is often significant: According to their own statements, six out of ten fraud victims (61 percent) suffered financial damage – for example because no or inferior goods were delivered to them.
Further fraud stitches with which criminals often succeed:
- Scamming, i.e. the pretense of false facts, to tempt a victim to transfers money.
- Identity fraud: Criminals use unauthorized personal data of other people to enrich themselves.
- Subscription traps: Users: Inside, long-term contracts are lured, the costs of which often turn out later.
In a third of all cases of online fraud (34 percent), the damage was 100 to 1,000 euros, a little more than one in four (28 percent) suffered damage between 1,000 and 10,000 euros. In four percent of the cases, it was more than 10,000 euros.
Sensitive data such as passwords (16 percent), bank details or credit card information (17 percent) as well as personal data such as address and date of birth (19 percent) also came into the hands of criminals.
In order to protect themselves from internet crime, consumers rely on the most secure passwords (58 percent). A good third (35 percent) of those who have already been victims of online fraud have changed login data afterwards.