25th of October 2024

Beware of fraud on second-hand platforms

Second-hand platforms such as Vinted, willhaben, Shpock or eBay continue to be in the focus of cyber-criminals. As outlined in our warning from last year, newly registered sellers are contacted by criminals via the platform's integrated chat function. and ask to provide an email address or telephone number in order to shift communication away from the (secure) platform and towards email or WhatsApp.

If you follow this request, you receive an email with a link to a "sales processing” page. This link leads to a fake website in the design of the sales platform, on which it is claimed that the seller's bank account still needs to be "verified". However, the only purpose of this phishing page is to obtain your confidential information and your authorisation via George ID or s Identity.

Therefore, be very careful if:

• Prospective buyers contact you very quickly
• If you are asked for your email address or telephone number to complete a purchase
• If you are asked to carry out "test transactions" or to "verify your bank account"

How can you protect yourself?

• If you are new to a sales platform, read the information about the purchase process on the website of the respective sales platform - this way you’ll be in the know and can quickly spot suspicious requests
• Do not authorise transactions or transfers that you have not started yourself.
• On every authorisation, check precisely what is being authorised - read more in our security tips.