HANOVER / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – A new wave of scams is flooding messenger services such as WhatsApp and Telegram. German security authorities warn of organized investment and romance fraud that causes significant financial damage. The perpetrators use highly professional methods to gain trust and manipulate victims.
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In recent months, scams via messenger services such as WhatsApp and Telegram have increased dramatically. These platforms offer criminals an ideal environment to reach their victims directly on their smartphones. The perpetrators often pose as financial advisors and promise unrealistically high returns in order to gain trust. These scams often start on social media and then move to private messenger groups, where victims are lured to fake trading platforms.
The fraudsters’ approach is sophisticated and well organized. After initial contact, victims are directed to platforms that display supposed profits in order to lure them into further investments. But in the end the money invested is lost. An investigative group in Heilbronn is currently working on around 130 such cases with a total loss of over 6.4 million euros. BaFin recently warned against providers who operate via Telegram and apps such as “NYLI” and misuse the identities of established companies.
In parallel to the trading scams, the emotional love scam is flourishing. Perpetrators create convincing fake profiles on dating portals and build a close bond with their victims over weeks. Once trust is established, sudden emergencies such as accidents or illnesses are faked to request financial help. These payments are often made through methods that are difficult to track, such as gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
Behind these scams there are often international gangs who use professional translation programs to reach their victims in different countries. A recent ruling by the Dresden Regional Court shows the dimensions of these criminal networks: Four people were convicted because they helped a network to provide bank accounts for money laundering. In one case, a blind woman was cheated out of 30,000 euros.
To protect yourself from these scams, security authorities recommend caution when making unsolicited contacts and never transferring money to strangers. If you suspect anything, contact should be broken off immediately and the incident reported to the police. It is also advisable to talk to friends or family about suspicious offers. Each report helps investigators identify patterns of crime and understand the extent of the problem.
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