Internet criminals use various methods to lure victims into their networks – they create fake websites, social networks, emails, or pose as employees of banks and various technical support services. What to do if you become a victim of fraud, said the managing partners of the law firm Murenko, Kuryavyi and Partners Alexander Kuryavyi and Nikita Murenko.
What are the most common types of Internet fraud?
As a rule, people find themselves in a situation where scammers using social networks try to gain access to their account.
— This type of Internet fraud is the most common among scammers. Thieves send SMS messages or call potential victims and say that there is a risk of losing access to certain social networks (Instagram, Telegram, etc.), so they ask to dictate a code to restore the account or confirm login, lawyers say.
In this case, the scammer’s goal is to access the person’s account and his phone book in order to further send messages to his friends and family asking for the transfer of funds supposedly to his card.
Currently watching
Photo: depositphotos
“Most often, scammers choose only close relatives of the victim from his phone book, because they are the most vulnerable group of people,” lawyers add.
Fraudsters also often create fake product websites that they use on various platforms for buying and selling certain products. OLX users often encounter this. On the platform, scammers open so-called sales pages to gain access to the victim’s bank card.
“They post fictitious advertisements and when communicating with potential victims, they send a fake website for payment. As a result, fraudsters obtain the person’s personal banking information and write off all available money from the victim’s card, the lawyers add.
Such sites, as a rule, are very similar to the official payment pages, but differ in design, for example, in color scheme, location of information, and the like. There are also differences in the site name and its hyperlink.
Internet scammers also resort to messages about a drawing or lottery. Usually, when sending such SMS by email, email technical support automatically reads them as spam. And this, in turn, protects a person from potential scammers. But the same messages are also sent via regular telephone SMS. This method is aimed at a vulnerable group of people – older people, from low-income families, teenagers.
Want to rest? Come to Facti.GAMES!
Photo: Pixabay
Fraudsters also create entire fake websites advertising a raffle or lottery. On such Internet pages, as a rule, there is a field for filling out personal banking information with a promise to send the person money to a card or a prize. In the latter case, the potential victim is offered to either pay a symbolic 1 UAH or have the reward delivered. This is how scammers gain access to a person’s funds.
In addition, scammers send people fake messages about financial assistance from public or volunteer organizations or create corresponding websites. In this way, thieves try to obtain personal banking information of potential victims. This type of Internet fraud has become quite relevant over the past two years in Ukraine.
“The martial law in Ukraine has become a favorable environment for Internet scammers who take advantage of the reduced concentration of people, in particular those who suffered from the war crimes of the aggressor, as well as the kindness of all caring people who seek to help others,” the lawyers add.
What to do and where to go if you become a victim of scammers
If a person has become a victim of online fraud, the following steps must be taken:
1 step. Stop any communication with the scammer.
Step 2. Block a bank card by contacting the appropriate bank if you have entered your personal bank information and noticed unusual financial transactions.
Step 3. Request receipts from the bank for debiting funds and collect all available evidence of fraud.
Step 4 Contact the administration of the site or technical support of a social network, platform for buying and selling goods and report the loss of access to your account and inform that you have fallen for a scammer.
Step 5 Report fraud to the police.
— If you detect any Internet fraud, it is important not to hesitate and contact the bank or use the application and block the bank card. The second important step is to collect all available evidence, including messages, correspondence, screenshots of fake websites, etc., so that the police can effectively find the scammer and protect your rights, experts advise.
In addition, if such a fraudster is brought to criminal liability, the victim has the right to file a civil lawsuit in court for damages.
To avoid becoming a victim of fraudsters, lawyers advise that you always check websites before making a payment, the legitimacy of online stores and platforms for buying and selling goods, do not trust anyone with your personal banking information, do not log into your own banking and social networking accounts from other devices, and enjoy double protection of your own pages.
