In recent weeks, the district police authority has received several reports of so-called investment fraud.
Scammers use social media to lure their victims to fake trading platforms on the internet. The offers for investments there sound tempting: low interest rates, easy money. This is supposedly very easy to obtain by investing a sum of money - often in cryptocurrency. At first glance, the investment platforms look very serious and genuine. They also like to feature celebrities who have allegedly invested successfully there. But this is a scam!
A woman from Hörstel recently fell victim to such a scam. She read a report on social media about an alleged investment company and contacted a financial advisor from the company. He opened an online account for the woman with a German IBAN number. The call was made via a foreign telephone number. The woman from Hörstel gradually transferred a five-figure sum. She was then instructed to transfer another high five-figure sum. She did not do this because she became suspicious. She finally contacted the police.
Scepticism is required
The police appeal: Be extremely skeptical of tempting offers relating to purchase or financial transactions that you come across on the Internet or social media. The scams of cyber criminals are hidden behind the promises of winnings. The criminals lure their victims to fake investment platforms, everything looks very serious - but it's a scam.
After a "customer" expresses interest, a fraudster in the form of an alleged advisor contacts the "customer" and tries to persuade them to "invest" smaller sums first. Larger sums are then requested.
The police have the following tips:
- Be critical of promises of high profits
- Inform yourself about the trading platforms before signing up or transferring money.
- Do not disclose any sensitive data
- Get serious advice. Use the services of consumer advice centers or specialist lawyers or simply ask your bank for their opinion.
- Do not allow yourself to be put under pressure and simply break off contact at the slightest doubt.
- Have you already transferred money to an unknown account or have amounts been withdrawn from your account? Then contact your bank as soon as possible. In some cases, it is possible to stop the transfer or have the money reversed.
