Mobile phones and computers are the new ‘open windows’ for criminals. They constantly come up with new tricks to extort bank details and money. How do you avoid falling for it?
Research by the University of Twente shows that 40 percent of those surveyed in 2020 had experienced an attempted fraud, in most cases online. Not all attempts succeed, but according to Statistics Netherlands, 17 percent of the population (about 2.5 million people) was the victim of some form of internet crime in 2021.
Always something new
These are the most recent figures and since the corona pandemic, the digital world has only become more interesting for criminals, who are always coming up with something new to penetrate your PC. A small selection of the warnings on the Fraudehelpdesk website:
A fake letter from the bank
You will receive a personal letter from your bank, stating that your card has expired and that you must request a new one, together with an extensive form. Several personal details are requested, such as date of birth, type of bank account and PIN code. And whether you want to cut the old card and send it. The bank will never ask for your card, PIN or passwords. Moreover, most of the information requested in this letter is already known to the bank. So don’t.
A false SMS about reimbursement of healthcare costs
Supposedly on behalf of DigiD, you will receive an SMS in connection with the reimbursement of healthcare costs. The message contains a link to verify the bank details. This link also takes you to a fake site.
A fake email on behalf of Giro555
Even the war in Ukraine is being abused with an e-mail on behalf of Giro555, but it contains a link to a Bunq account number. Giro555 uses an ING account number: NL08 INGB 0000 0005 55.
Cunning tricks
And that’s not all. Because scammers are also active on Marktplaats. Sometimes as a seller who doesn’t deliver stuff, but much more often as a buyer who pretends to buy something, but first sends a fake link to a shipping label.
That link sends you to a site similar to PostNL’s, but it’s a trick to steal login details from the bank. See also the box opposite: ‘You blink once and all your money is gone’. On www.plusonline.nl/marktplaats you can read more about the ten most cunning tricks on Marktplaats.
In addition, there are fake dating sites, fake shops, fake investments, fake cryto coins, fake help desks and via WhatsApp you can also suddenly receive a message from a fake family in need of money. Sometimes even with a photo, see the box on the left: ‘You just want to help a child in need’.
young and old
Because scammers are getting a little better at their approach to strike at the right time with just the right message, anyone can become a victim of fraud. Victims often blame themselves that they should have been more alert, but there is no cure for some sophisticated tricks.
Therefore, there is not one type of victim; it happens to both men and women, young and old. Young people are slightly more likely to be victims of purchase fraud, older people are more often involved in help desk fraud. Whoever thinks: this does not happen to me, could be terribly mistaken. Research by the University of Twente shows that the extent to which someone says they exhibit cyber-safe behavior has little influence on the chance of entering or not entering the ship.
What to do?
If you suspect you have been a victim of internet fraud, it can be difficult to find out where to report it first. When it comes to bank details, it is important to contact your own bank as soon as possible to have accounts blocked, because criminals are very quick to empty an account. But what to do if something goes wrong via Marktplaats? Whether a fake SMS or WhatsApp message is the culprit?
The Fraud Helpdesk can tell you exactly which organization is best for you. This increases the chance of a result, because you will immediately receive advice to limit the damage and possibly be reimbursed. Moreover, all reports received by the Fraud Helpdesk enable them to report directly to the Ministry of Justice and Security. More information via www.fraudehelpdesk.nl or 088-786 73 72.
Experiment: claim money back yourself!
Victims of purchase and sales fraud who file a report sometimes have to wait a long time for an investigation by the police. That is why the strong arm started an experiment and passed on the details of fraudsters to two collection agencies to demand the money back on behalf of the victims. That was a reasonable success, because half of the victims still got money back or were able to make a payment arrangement. Another quarter of the cases are before the subdistrict court to see whether repayment must be made. Victims indicate that they are satisfied, but it is not yet clear whether the police will expand this experiment.
But outside of this experiment, you can always try it yourself. The possibilities for victims of online fraud have been expanded. They may request the scammer’s name and address details from the bank. You can then engage a collection agency or bailiff.
‘You blink once and all your money is gone’
Rudi Bergsma (60) often sold something through Marktplaats without any problems. So that CD player from Denon also went for €25. At about nine o’clock in the evening someone offered the asking price with a message. “But I also got the question whether I could send it and transfer €1 for the bank account number and some extra security. All I had to do was click on a link and that’s how I ended up on the site that looked exactly like Rabobank’s to log in with my Rabo scanner. After that it seemed settled.”
An hour later, Rudi checks whether the €25 has already been credited, but is then shocked to see that his checking account and his savings account have been emptied and that all transfers from the past month for, among other things, the mortgage and energy have been reversed and then included. Total damage: more than €6500.
“You are completely shocked, because you blink your eyes once and all your money is gone. I called family and friends in tears and had to borrow money to pay everything that month.”
He also calls the bank’s emergency number to have everything blocked. A day later, a friend calls the scammers’ mobile number to seek redress. She is admitted, but she is scolded. Rudi makes a declaration and after two weeks Rabobank manages to recover part of the money from Estonia. Two weeks later, the bank reimburses him for everything. “That was a huge relief, because I was able to repay everyone who helped me. You wouldn’t wish this on your worst enemy.”
Marian Veldhoen (61) had never had a request for money via WhatsApp before, until that one afternoon. Her son’s phone had broken and he texted another phone that he had a problem. He had to buy a new phone and pay two big bills. “A kind of switch went on for me, so that I only wanted to do one thing: help my child.” And it is precisely that feeling that the scammers on the other side completely exploit. Whether she can transfer money quickly via a link or to an account number. “I thought it was strange, because I had never experienced anything like this with my children. But it sounded urgent and a child in need just wants to help you. I don’t want to be a meddling mother either, so I didn’t ask too many questions.”
She only makes the agreement that she will get the money back quickly and that she will confirm it all in an email. “I didn’t have to, but I did it anyway”, says Marian. Less than 10 minutes later, her real son calls who has to tell his mother that she has been scammed. Total damage: €3200 and that means dull misery. “I’m on sick leave, so it wasn’t a big deal. I just can’t afford that money.” But ING won’t budge, because Marian transferred the money herself. “They just don’t say ‘your own fault, big bump’, but the reaction was very cold and businesslike and that while I think they can do a lot more. I mean: I can transfer money immediately and it is immediately transferred to another account. But then it wouldn’t be possible to intervene quickly or make a refund?”
The bank does not go after the recipient’s address details and the report to the police yields nothing. After a year, her legal expenses insurance is still trying to recover the money. “Of course I hope that one day I will get it back, but I don’t count on anything anymore,” said Marian.
