28.01.2021 – 08:37
District police authority Märkischer Kreis
Märkischer Kreis (ots)
Data thieves steal identities. Unfortunately, this is now also everyday life in the Märkischer Kreis.
A 57-year-old Lüdenscheider was surprised on Wednesday about mail from a bank. In it, the bank confirmed the “consent to being contacted for information purposes”. With the best will in the world, the Lüdenscheider couldn’t remember it and called the bank. As it turned out, a stranger had applied for a loan online under the name of Lüdenscheider and was paid out a four-digit amount. On March 1st, the first installment is debited from the Lüdenscheider’s account. Of course, it fell out of the clouds. The stranger knew all the necessary data.
To her surprise, a 23-year-old from Halver received a payment reminder from an online department store. In it, the department store kindly reminded you of paying for an order. The woman didn’t know anything about it. Apparently someone had ordered goods by giving their details.
A 47-year-old from Halver received a text message. In it, a telephone provider announced that it would deduct 59 euros. The man from Halver called the hotline and learned that he supposedly had ordered two iPhones and SIM cards. But he didn’t know anything about it.
When checking his account statements from October, an 82-year-old Iserlohner discovered that a company completely unknown to him had debited money from his account. It is a foreign online shop. However, the senior had not ordered anything on the Internet. So he filed a fraud complaint.
The police investigations must show how the thieves obtained the data of their victims in the cases described. One thing is certain, however: too many people are too unsuspecting with their data. The name, together with the date of birth and address, is often enough as a “key”. This identity key opens up the possibility of ordering on the Internet. Once the data is in circulation, it cannot be retrieved.
The police therefore urge data economy and timely control of accounts.
Take payment requests or debit information seriously and contact the sender immediately if you cannot explain the claims.
Use strong passwords for your online accounts – tips below www.mach-dein-passwort-stark.de.
If possible, activate two-factor authentication.
Fraudsters can also obtain sensitive data through malware. Therefore computer users should use the latest virus protection software.
If perpetrators have already gained access to online accounts, change passwords immediately and contact the provider and report to the police!
Please contact:
District police authority Märkischer Kreis
Press office police Märkischer Kreis
Phone: +49 (02371) 9199-1220 to -1222
E-Mail: [email protected]
http://maerkischer-kreis.polizei.nrw
Original content by: District Police Authority Märkischer Kreis, transmitted by news aktuell
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