Ludwigshafen: Fraudsters captured 900 euros - this is how you protect yourself!

Im Rhein-Neckar-Kreis warnt eine Frau nach einem Cyberbetrug; durch Phishing verlor sie fast 900 Euro. Tipps zur Sicherheit.
In the Rhein-Neckar district, a woman warns of cyber fraud; Phishing lost almost 900 euros. Tips for security. (Symbolbild/MBW)

Ludwigshafen: Fraudsters captured 900 euros - this is how you protect yourself!

Ludwigshafen, Deutschland - Who would have thought that when trying to start a small business, could fall into a fraud trap? This is exactly what a 56-year-old from Ludwigshafen experienced when she recently set up a seller account with the popular online shop "Etsy". After this registration, she received an email to confirm an alleged purchase. At a careless moment she clicked on the link and was forwarded to a chatbot, where she promptly revealed her sensitive online banking data. The result was an debit of over 900 euros from her account. Fortunately, the woman noticed the fraud in good time and turned to her bank, who reimbursed the money and was able to avert the economic damage. This reports mrn news .

What started so harmless has deeper roots in the widespread phenomenon of online banking. In Germany, nine of ten internet users already use this service. However, they are also an easy goal for cybercriminals that specifically use phishing emails and SMS to get confidential data. The security procedures of the banks, such as two-factor authentication, have been improved, but the number of phishing attacks increases continuously. At first glance, the fake messages often look very real and the senders seem serious, which makes it difficult for users to recognize the fraud, according to the assessment of ndr .

How do we recognize phishing attacks?

With creative tricks, fraudsters try to create a trusting atmosphere. They are no longer dependent on gross typing errors or grammatical errors. Rather, they rely on deceptively real emails and links that lead users to fake websites. Once there, account number, PIN and TAN are queried, with which criminals can quickly carry out illegal transactions. The Federal Office for Information Technology (BSI) warns that phishing attacks in Germany are on a record high and offers helpful tips for safe handling of online banking. So users should never reveal their access data in digital messages and always check them carefully. Incidentally, banks never ask for sensitive information, such as TANs or passwords.

It is particularly alarming that social networks are also used as a distribution channel for phishing messages. Manipulations are often carried out that take place in the name of friends and the likelihood that users fall for these fraud stitches. Therefore, the highest caution should be made, especially when it comes to online banking.

what to do after a phishing incident?

In the event that you have actually been the victim of such an attack, it is advisable to act quickly: those affected should call their bank's emergency hotline immediately, hold the recipient's account data and immediately file a complaint with the police. The contact with the bank should come first to prevent further damage.

In a time when no day does not seem to pass without a new phishing message, there is above all a motto: skepticism is a trump card! Users should always deal with their personal data and be careful who they trust. Because one thing is clear: a good hand is required for online banking. Stay vigilant and safe!

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OrtLudwigshafen, Deutschland
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