Fake contests, legacies, “free” plane tickets and even loans through Facebook are promised astute
Citizens' desire to get a gift or a better price is exploited by various online fraudsters who set up various kinds of scams.
Indeed, some of these fraudsters “offer » up to loans via Facebook with the aim of deceiving citizens in every way, while others present themselves as lawyers of some “distant” relativewho with his death leaves a large inheritance to which they are entitled, with compensation of course.
On the occasion of the above but also theexplosion observed in recent years due to the development of technology,< /strong> the Cyprus Consumers Association has prepared a list of the 5 most common ways these frauds are presentedto inform the public.
More specifically, the main forms of fraud recorded in Link are the following:
1/Phishing (“electronic fishing”):electronic messages that appear to come from various companies using their logo and aim to intercept the consumer's personal information. These e-mails work in the following way: a) they mimic the messages that the original company sends to its customers, b) they copy the logo, features and style of real e-mails, c) they use terminology that gives the sense of urgency and d) ask consumers to click on a link or call a phone number in order to verify, update or reactivate an account.
2/Fake contests to win gift certificatesfrom chain stores: refers to misleading advertising messages through apps or through messages on the consumer's mobile phone, where they are invited to follow the web link, answer questions to win a gift certificate from chain stores or supermarkets. In addition, they invite the consumer to submit their personal information in order to receive their gift. Consumers are then invited to spread this competition to their contacts on social media. These messages at first glance appear to be trustworthy since they include the logo of the original companies.
3/Scam to obtain free airline tickets:refers to posts that use authentic company names in sponsored posts where consumers are promised free tickets through a contest. When the user follows the link, he is asked to share the contest link on his personal page, then to answer some questions and finally to submit his personal information in a special form (contact phone number, name, etc.). By filling in the form, the user unknowingly consents to billing services, as a result of which the scammers send him a message about a supposed gift he won and thus charge him.
4/Scams for granting loans from non-licensed operators:refers to posts on social networking pages, by individuals or groups of individuals behind which are hidden, for allegedly granting loans or other financial facilities, on favorable terms for consumers.
5/Fraud with details of hotel units that offer high rates of discounts to consumers:the detection of ads is mainly through social networking pages, where pages promote various hotel units for holidays, with a high discount rate (over 50%), if and as long as a reservation is made, within a certain time frame.
What citizens should know
As the Association notes, consumers must be particularly careful and in case they receive such messages via email, via SMS or via applications, they are asked to follow the instructions below:
➢ Evaluate the email or SMS received.
➢ Before taking any action, they should perform the necessary checks by comparing the address with the previous real messages they may have received from the authentic companies.
➢ They should check carefully for any spelling, grammatical or even syntactical errors.
➢ If something seems suspicious they should avoid replying to the message or clicking directly on the electronic link (link), as well as not downloading (download) of the attached file or image.
➢ In the case of promoting advertisements for hotel units, it may constitute fraud when the consumer is asked to pay in cash or by bank transfer, such as with MoneyWise or Western Union, or even in virtual currencies such as Bitcoin. These payment methods are difficult to trace and are non-refundable.
➢ Check that the website offers complete contact information. Landline number, postal address and any other information that will make it easier for you to contact them in case something goes wrong.
➢ Check that the website mentions Terms and Conditions, refund policy and privacy policy.
➢ Contact the company immediately to ensure that the message is from
the company itself and is not a scam.
Ways to contact to report
In case of violations, consumers should immediately contact the company by email or phone, with the Cyprus Consumers Association at the email address [email protected] and 22516112, as well as with the Cyprus Police at the email address [email protected].
