Caution
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Amazon, Booking and Expedia take action against fake reviews
Amazon and travel platforms Booking and Expedia agreed to stop false online reviews to restore trust in customer reviews.
Online fraud in used car sales
Scammers are targeting buyers on popular platforms with bogus vehicle listings. Learn how to spot the red flags and protect yourself from advance-fee fraud in our full article.
International fraudsters jailed for fake binary options
In a cross-border operation, Europol and Eurojust recently broke up a ring that enriched itself with fake investments in binary options.
Dating agency subscription trap - not only for Valentine's Day
Subscription traps are in high season on Valentine's Day. But all year round, consumers find themselves in subscriptions they didn't really want because subscription providers play tricks.
Usury with books
Facsimiles, i.e. replicas, of magnificent antique volumes, bibles or encyclopaedias are sold for thousands of euros in door-to-door sales. The victims are mainly elderly or old people. They were promised a safe investment. It later transpires that they were sold relatively worthless books.
Compensation for fraudulent "Next Gen" draws
Since 2013, the US company Next Gen Inc. has been active with various dubious raffles on social media such as Facebook. Mostly elderly people fell for their alleged prize draws and lotteries. As of today, victims from Austria have the opportunity to recover part of the damages they suffered.
Microsoft Scam
Alleged Microsoft employees call, send emails or pretend to be tech support in response to fake error messages in order to pull off various scams. Here is a summary and tips on how to behave.
Coaching rip-off still going strong
Dubious coaching providers are still very active. Hardly any other rip-off industry knows how to use the potential of social media and target group advertising so skilfully to get money from the unsuspecting. We give those affected recommendations for action and warn urgently against cost traps amounting to several thousand euros!
Bitter pills - risks with online medicines
In this article, we have compiled information on how to recognise a reputable online pharmacy, which products may be sold and purchased at all, and which other legal regulations must be observed.
Beware of hacker SMS about alleged parcel delivery
Attention: A fake SMS message about a fake parcel delivery is currently doing the rounds among Austrian Android smartphones. If you click on the link it contains, spy software will be installed on your mobile phone!
Customer reviews on the internet
It is no longer possible to imagine e-commerce without customer reviews, but they are not only an elementary part of online shopping. We show where trickery takes place and what to look out for.
Warning: eikora.de does not deliver
Numerous complaints have been made to ECC-Net and also to other consumer protection organisations about German online suppliers of bathroom fittings and furniture. The number of problem cases has risen sharply since the end of 2020, better order elsewhere!
Fraud with fake holiday homes
When timeshare flats or holiday homes booked online do not exist. Criminals are trying to extract money from the pockets of holidaymakers by using internet offers with stolen photos of real holiday flats.
Fast cash through coaching?
Countless self-proclaimed coaches try to "scale" their business on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok by selling highly dubious business models with their image of success. We do not find this trend "nice", to stay in the language of damaged young adults. Requests for help at the ECC continue to increase because of the coaching rip-off. An enormous wave of advertisements with get-rich-quick instructions is intended to chill young viewers in particular with the wealth on display and is flooding social media.
Safer Streaming
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the market for streaming services was in a solid growth process. The lockdown measures to contain COVID-19 have boosted demand even further, with leading streaming services even agreeing to reduce the video quality of streams at the request of the EU Commission to free up bandwidth for more important services. Even though the first rush of new customers to the streaming platforms has already slowed down somewhat, the increased demand in the area of video streaming has also led to an increased number of consumers who have fallen for fraudulent offers. Many consumers do not notice if they have signed up for a dubious streaming service. The rude awakening often comes a few days later when letters arrive from lawyers or debt collection agencies demanding several hundred euros for allegedly completed annual memberships. Due to the numerous requests for help from injured parties, the European Consumer Centre Austria (ECC) has now compiled information for consumers on the subject of video streaming.
WHO scam and other Corona related rip-offs on the net
Corona scams on the net and in email inboxes. Crises cause confusion and usually attract scammers. Here is an overview of the current Corona-related scams
Fraud traps in social media
Consumers often fall prey to psychological stimuli that cause them to act impulsively and rashly. Read here about scams on social media and the new CPC Regulation, which improves the warning system and enforcement of consumer offences in the EU.
Trivago convicted for deceiving consumers
Room price manipulation in Australia: On the comparison platform Trivago, Australian customers were not suggested the cheapest hotel rooms but search results with the highest profits were issued for the platform.
Preliminiary injunction against tolls reseller Vignette-sofort
Interim injunction against German website operator of Vignette-sofot.at: Anti-competitive behaviour and circumvention of the right of withdrawal in distance selling transactions
Warning against Aliaz Cooperation SIA
A dubious supplier of sexual enhancers (Horsepower) is luring customers into subscription traps. Unwanted deliveries are repeatedly sent to people who have agreed to a free trial or single delivery. Surprising bills and demands from debt collection agencies promptly follow.
Scam with Thomas Cook
30.09.2019 / Data theft with faked e-mails
App warns against online scams
04.09.2019 / Service by the Watchlist Internet
Warning: Holiday homes in Spain
Dubious providers ended many a traveler´s dream of a vacation in a Spanish villa. After having paid for accommodation, the provider was suddenly no longer available.
Warning against webshop RetinolLift
05.06.2019 / Expensive consequences
Help with ALIAZ: Horsepower & Co.
Don't pay immediately! We have the most important information for you.
Sneak4you.com doesn't deliver
15.05.2019 / Dubious webshop
AK: Caution with travel broadsheet
10.05.2019 / Trip to Cyprus for one Euro
Warning against cragoo.at
10.05.2019 / No delivery
Warning: Dangerous potency drug
17.04.2019 / "Rammbock": Overdosed agent
Warning against jewellry webshops
08.04.2019 / Allegedly for free
Wave of reminders by Eurotreuhand Inkasso
25.03.2019 / Old claims of Exilium Finanz
Warning against DHE Haustechnik
06.03.2019 / High costs, bad service
European-wide fraud with cyber trading
26.02.2019 / Austrians among the victims
Brexit: Scam with small ads
Brexit is not just concerning international politicians. Fraudsters are now increasingly using the UK's exit from the EU for their schemes on the internet.
Staying safe online
14.01.2019 / Tips from VKI
Fake shop dust-buster.eu
28.11.2018 / No delivery
Warning against Gran Optic
31.10.2018 / No delivery of brand glasses
Reminder by Corbu Trading Inkasso AG
15.10.2018 / Dubious payment demand
Fraud targeted at online-sellers
15.10.2018 / Payment via Western Union