Lucrative investment offers are advertised, particularly in social media, online magazines and via online searches, often under the pretext that celebrities have had success with them.
But what is behind the "cybertrading fraud"?
After registering on a corresponding website, a friendly "fake broker" contacts the potential victims and persuades them to make an initial, manageable investment (often between 250 and 500 euros). Interested parties are suggested a high return via specially set up platforms, which in reality never materializes. In order to continue the scam, the perpetrators use sophisticated methods to gain the trust of the victims and obtain higher amounts.
Recently, a victim in the local area fell victim to such a scam. After making contact via a supposed investment platform, she ended up transferring 50,000 euros for investment purposes. Further transfers in the five-digit range were not carried out thanks to the attention of the victim's bank. Only then did the victim realize that she had become a victim of fraud - she filed a complaint with the police.
The specialized investigators of the responsible KK 23 are taking the recurring cases as an opportunity to provide information about this particular scam and to point out ways to prevent it:
Investors should be careful and remain skeptical of such offers. Even supposed payouts usually turn out to be fraudulent. Incoming funds often come from other victims. The perpetrators exploit the good faith of the account holders for their own purposes. The recipients of the money usually forward the payments again for "investment purposes". However, as they themselves have become unauthorized recipients of other people's money, they run the risk of being suspected of criminal money laundering!
The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) provides information and warnings about suspicious online platforms on its website. However, consumers should be aware that not every fraudulent website is listed there.
Checklist for your security (source: LKA NRW):
- There is a very high risk of loss when trading online. Fraudulent websites are difficult to recognize at first glance. Therefore, potential investors should check the trading provider for the following features:
- Inform yourself about the trading platforms before signing up or transferring money.
- Is there any information on the website about the operator or creator of the website?
- Are contact persons named?
- Is there any information about where the company is based (Germany/abroad)?
- Do not disclose any sensitive data.
- The risk of fraud is high with investment forms in which you are unfamiliar. Get serious advice! Use the services of consumer advice centers or specialized lawyers or simply ask your bank for their assessment.
- Be critical of promises of high profits.
- Solicited advice in connection with investment opportunities (telephone advertising, emails) is generally prohibited without prior consent. Do not grant anyone access to your computer using remote maintenance software (e.g. AnyDesk or Team Viewer). Beware of identity theft: Do not send copies of your identity documents. Do not transfer money to unknown foreign accounts of private individuals or supposed companies based abroad. Check the legal notice on the Internet: Is it complete, does it contain an address, an authorized representative and an e-mail address?