Counterfeit Online Store Scam Causes $25,000 in Damages
Headline: Warning Issued After 64-Year-Old Woman Falls Victim to Online Scam
A 64-year-old woman from Gifhorn has filed a police report after falling victim to an online scam. The woman was searching for a kitchen appliance and received a link from her son to an alleged online store.
However, the link did not lead to the real online store of the well-known shop. Instead, it appears to have been a fake store, offering the appliance at a very cheap price. The woman, trusting the link from her son, created a profile and made the payment via PayPal.
Initially, the payment amount was deducted correctly from the woman's account. But unauthorized debits totaling nearly $25,000 began shortly afterwards, according to the police report. It is suspected that when the woman registered on the fake shop, a direct debit authorization may have been given, allowing unauthorized debits.
The police have issued a warning about the importance of verifying the legitimacy of online stores before making any purchases. They advise checking the imprint of the site for legitimacy, carefully examining the spelling and URL, and using the mouse cursor to check the actual destination of a link without clicking on it.
The danger of fake online shops and manipulated links has been emphasized by the police. They warn against being overly trusting of extremely cheap offers, and the woman's case serves as a reminder to be cautious when shopping online, particularly when deals seem too good to be true.
The police have also issued a warning about fake online shops following the incident. They encourage everyone to be vigilant and to exercise caution when shopping online to avoid falling victim to such scams.
