The Rhönkanal and numerous other users were recently confronted with a new scam in which fraudsters send seemingly trustworthy messages via SMS or WhatsApp in order to steal money from their victims.
This article describes a real-life case where an SMS message appeared to be from an acquaintance, but was actually a sophisticated scam.
On the evening of October 5, 2023, we received a message on WhatsApp from a person claiming to be an acquaintance. The exchange of messages started friendly:
[17:19, 5.10.2023] Rhönkanal: Hello my darling, why do you have a new number? LG
[17:20, 5.10.2023] SCAM Number Fishing: Hello dad, are you okay?
[17:20, 5.10.2023] SCAM Number Fishing: Are you at home?
[17:20, 5.10.2023] Rhönkanal: Yes, everything is great. But I have a lot on my mind.
The supposed acquaintance continued the conversation by pretending to need help and claiming to be ashamed to ask:
[18:11, 5.10.2023] SCAM Number Fishing: I need your help but was ashamed to ask you until now
[18:46, 5.10.2023] Rhönkanal: Marie, you don’t have to be ashamed! I beg you. Is something wrong with the car?
[19:21, 5.10.2023] SCAM Number Fishing: I urgently need to pay 2 bills today, but because I don’t have my cell phone yet I can’t activate my online banking, could you pay that for me? I’ll pay you back tomorrow
The fraudsters rely on the compassion and helpfulness of their victims to demand money. In this case, the fraudster asked for financial support.
Many people then transfer the money in good faith, usually to an account number abroad. If the fraud is discovered, the money is already gone.
Please turn on your head and check the information!
Unfortunately, such shock calls or messages are not uncommon. They aim to trigger emotions such as concern and compassion to persuade victims to transfer money.
It is important to be careful and never send money to unknown people without verifying the sender’s identity.
In such cases, it is advisable to contact the alleged acquaintance by another means to confirm the authenticity of the message.
Police and other law enforcement agencies regularly warn about scams like this. It is advisable to report suspected cases and learn about different types of fraud to protect yourself and others.
In a time where digital communications are ubiquitous, it is crucial to remain vigilant and alert to avoid falling prey to fraudulent messages.
2023-10-06 15:18:42
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