It is still a relatively unknown way to get your money back if you have become a victim of online fraud: to hold the scammer directly liable. Victims then claim back the money transferred themselves and do not wait for an investigation by the police.
Over the past year, the police and several other parties have experimented with this. The method seems to work, at least for some of the victims of online scams.
More than 200 victims of purchase and sales fraud took part in a trial last year. The police passed on the details of fraudsters to two collection agencies. At the behest of the victims, they summoned the scammers to repay the money.
In almost half of the cases, victims have already received their money back in full or a payment arrangement has been made, whereby the money is returned in parts. In addition, another quarter of the cases are before the subdistrict court, which will decide whether repayment must be made.
Most victims are satisfied and so are the police. “This is a good result, because otherwise these victims would probably not have received anything in return,” says Gijs van der Linden of the National Internet Reporting Center.
tidal wave
This week, research by the University of Twente showed that in 2020 one in six Dutch people were victims of fraud, most of them online. Fraud by sellers who do not deliver after payment is the most common. The police receive almost 200 reports a day of internet scams.
But those who file a report are usually disappointed. Many cases remain unanswered because the police do not have the time or people to investigate the tidal wave of fraudulent practices.
In order to accommodate victims, the trial was started with the Service Organization for Direct Liability (SODA) and the National Association of Bailiffs (LAVG). One is a foundation, the other a commercial agency. Both also pass on their own costs to the scammer.
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