Salar of fraud in Berlin: Josh from UK attracts with a fake bank app!

Salar of fraud in Berlin: Josh from UK attracts with a fake bank app!

In Berlin there are currently alarm reports on a new fraud stitch, which has occurred in particular at the Marienplatz subway output in Munich. A user of Reddit warned of a fraudster who spent "Josh from UK" and relied on the helpfulness of passers -by. On January 7 of this year, around 7 p.m., the man is said to have claimed that his Sparkasse machine had drafted his bank card and it would take up to three days for him to get a new card. In the hope of quick help, the fraudster asked the surrounding people to transfer money to him, which he would then withdraw and give them back.

How Berlin Live reported, the perpetrator showed the victims a fake bank app and even had a photo of it. However, the requested transfers never took place because the specified account did not exist. This stitch was very well received in the Reddit network, where many users found the warning to be useful and thanked the author for his message.

Caution of further fraud forms

In addition to this incident, there are general warnings in Berlin about a fraud method known as the "Iban mesh". This is particularly aimed at users of overnight accounts. According to information from Mein Berlin, fraudsters ask to transfer money to fake accounts, often under the pretext that it is attractive investment offers. These offers are often offered via fraudulent websites or incorrect consulting companies. Consumer advice centers find that those affected often only recognize too late that they were cheated if the supposed credit institutions are no longer available.

The facts are alarming: In April 2023 there was already a warning on this fraud form, while numerous cases are currently documented in North Rhine-Westphalia in which fraudsters are trusting. The victims result in financial damage that cannot be reversed in many cases.

Current phishing threats

In addition to these fraud stitches, the consumer center reports that there are currently increasing phishing threats. Fake invoices on behalf of Telekom are currently causing confusion among users. These emails, which have amounts of € 168.73, look serious at first glance, but the impersonal salutations and illogical content are clear indications of fraud. Consumers are warned to move such emails directly to the spam folder and instead consult the official Telekom website to stay on the safe side.

The Consumer Center also notes that Targobank is currently asking its customers to update their contact details, which could also be found as a phishing attack. Customers should ignore such requests and instead only obtain security -relevant information via the official communication channels.