Classifieds, formerly known as “Ebay Classifieds”, are currently seeing a rise in cases of attempted or successful fraud. According to the Saxony-Anhalt State Criminal Police Office, 23 such criminal activities have been reported since June. Read at TECHBOOK what exactly the current scam looks like.
According to classified ads, around 30 million people use the portal every month to sell things privately. Whether the number is accurate or not, there are certainly many users trading here, and therefore many potential victims of scams. As recently as March, TECHBOOK reported on phishing cases at the online marketplace, which at the time was still called eBay classifieds. Much like back then, the current scam is also aimed specifically at sellers.
LKA warns of fraud in classified ads
Like the LKA Saxony-Anhalt according to one press release explained to the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung that 23 cases of fraud have been reported since June. It can be assumed that the number of unreported incidents is significantly higher.
According to the report, the fraudsters are asking sellers of classified ads to disclose their contact details (e.g. e-mail addresses or telephone numbers). Such information is actually not necessary for a trade transaction. But you wouldn’t be a scammer if you didn’t have his tricks to justify the data query. According to the LKA, anyone who follows her “quickly loses several thousand euros”.
This is what the current scam looks like
Only a few years ago, Kleinanzeige introduced the “Secure Payment” function – a protective measure against attempted fraud. Among other things, it regulates that the buyer gets his money back if the purchased goods do not correspond to the seller’s description or have not even arrived. According to the report, scammers outwit this security feature by luring their victims away from the platform. For example, they pretend that they intend to use one of the methods that are considered safe to pay, or that they have already done so, but that confirmation by email from the seller would be required.
If ignorant sellers now give out their e-mail address, they will receive an e-mail with a link and, if in doubt, click on it to provide the supposedly required confirmation. On the linked website, various sensitive data are requested in an apparently serious manner, including credit card information – it is a so-called phishing mail. Fraudsters can easily withdraw money from the corresponding account.
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Keep your data to yourself!
The portal’s hands are largely tied. They hold agreements with the police and can roughly guess from where the fraud attempts are made. In fact, of course, they cannot be prevented, because basically everyone can use classified ads. Recently, sellers have at least been explicitly warned against passing on their contact and credit card data. “One should under no circumstances respond to these requests,” emphasizes Pierre Du Bois, Head of Communications at Classifieds, again in the press release.
More tips to protect yourself from scams
The respective scams can appear differently, but fraud on classified ads happens again and again. Some of them are harder to protect against. In the past few weeks, there have been two hacker attacks in the BOOKs editorial office alone – attempts have been made to use the hacked accounts to sell goods that, in case of doubt, do not exist, and to collect payment for them.
TECHBOOK has been following the topic for a long time and in this context also explains how to best identify attempts at fraud and how to protect yourself against them. Also the Consumer Center gives constantly updated tips to recognize phishing mails. The main points in brief:
Communicate exclusively via classified ads!
There is no reason to choose an alternative communication channel: only exchange ideas with potential (sales) buyers via the classified ads app.
Recognize fake accounts and mails
How quickly did a supposed user react to your request? And how long has he been registered with classifieds anyway? In both respects, a conspicuously short duration should make you suspicious.
Phishing emails are often written in a foreign language or are full of errors. Likewise, if a personal salutation is missing, you could be dealing with an attempted scam.
Don’t click on links, don’t enter any data
Do not click on dubious links and ignore input masks in which data is requested.
Insist on a secure payment method
Don’t let anyone tell you anything – there are no real arguments against Paypal or the “Secure payment” function.