With a new scam, criminals not only rob you of money, but also of your nerves. This is how the triangle fraud on Amazon and eBay works.
Take a close look the next time you go shopping. (Source: Milkos / depositphotos.com)
- Scammers want to lure you into a trap on Amazon and eBay.
- A good deal can quickly turn out to be an expensive scam.
- This is how the criminals operate.
Bargain hunters know that there are high-quality branded products at low prices on Amazon and eBay every day. This is mainly because private sales can also offer their goods. But be careful, an apparently good deal can often hide an attempt at fraud. In order to take money out of your pockets, cybercriminals have now come up with a new and extremely bold scam.
In so-called triangular fraud, a fake shop is created or a seller account is hacked, which is then used to offer cheap products. However, the criminals do not actually own the goods. If you let yourself be lured by the deal, the fraudsters will order the item through a reputable third-party provider on account and in your name.
You will then receive the product as new and consider the purchase to be completed. Weeks later, however, the reputable provider comes to you and demands your money. After all, you are listed as the buyer. Without knowing what is actually going on, you will be treated as a deliberate bill evader. There may be reminders, debt collection letters or even a report.
As Andreas Mackenthun from the LKA Hamburg stated in an interview with NDR, the aim of the fraudsters is for the scam to be discovered as late as possible. By the time you receive a message from the actual dealer, the criminals have ripped off more victims and have long since covered up their digital traces.
Statement from Amazon and eBay
Amazon and eBay told NDR that they would warn their customers about possible attempts at fraud. At Amazon, policy violations would result in listings being removed and accounts being closed. The eBay sales platform would work with highly developed security software and a risk management system to detect such scams as early as possible.
This is what those affected have to do
If you have fallen for the fraud attempt, you should immediately inform the sales platform (Amazon or eBay) and the injured third-party provider. This is how you can counteract the damage. According to NDR, both parties are extremely accommodating if they can provide evidence of fraud. We also recommend filing a report with the police.
There are a few things to consider when shopping online. Suspiciously cheap offers in particular should be treated with caution. To avoid falling victim to fraudsters the next time you shop, you should only order from reputable providers. There are often enough bargains to be found here too.
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