Vienna police warn of new fraud scheme

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Vienna police are warning of a new scam currently making the rounds on the Internet. The criminals – probably always the same group – have already been successful with the trick twelve times and scammed almost 19,000 euros.

Scammers use a clever scam to obtain valuables and turn victims into contributors. The Viennese police warned on Sunday of such crimes. Twelve times the criminals with their trick were already successful, three times it remained with the attempt. The amount of damage is 18,720 euros, the investigators assume a higher number of unreported cases. Possible victims can report to any inspection.

Price exactly 1,560 euros
Officials of the Kriminalreferat of the police inspection Tannengasse clarified the procedure of the fraudsters. These look for sales offers of – for example cell phones, televisions or laptops since January this year over Internet platforms. A woman named “Sara” contacts the sellers and always negotiates the price down to exactly 1,560 euros or even up. Once the deal is sealed, “Sara” asks for the bank details for the alleged transfer of the sale price.

At the same time, the scammers offer rental apartments on Internet platforms under the guise of a bogus company called “Immobilien GmbH”. As a deposit for the respective property 1,560 euros are required. As an account for the transfer, the perpetrators give the account number of the first victim, the seller of the valuable object. For “faster processing”, the payment is to be made without specifying a purpose.

1,560 euros as a deposit
The scammers now receive the goods from the seller, to whose account the 1,560 euros have been paid. The injured party unwittingly becomes a contributor, because at first glance he seems to be involved in the fraud. The second injured party has transferred 1,560 euros for a non-existent property.

“Be aware of this scam,” appealed the police. And, “Do not make any transfers without a purpose.” Rental properties should be inspected before making a payment.