Warnings issued over deceitful online profiles by Consumer Centre
In a recent development, the Consumer Protection Agency in Hesse has issued a warning about fraudulent social media profiles, particularly those impersonating prominent personalities to appear trustworthy and serious. This warning comes after a fake account posing as Mayor Claus Kaminsky (SPD) of Hanau was active on social media.
The fake account, initially named "clauskaminsky1" and later "clauskaminskya", promised lucrative financial products and allegedly revolutionary health products to lure users into alleged WhatsApp investment groups. The city of Hanau immediately warned against this scam.
The agency advises users to be cautious with profiles that have unusual spellings in the name or are missing information. Warning signs also include overly generous promises of profit or requests to transfer money to unknown accounts.
Another indication of a fake profile is when the account has only existed for a short time. Unusual response times and little profile activity can also be red flags. Furthermore, the profile name containing symbols and numbers can be an indication of a fraudulent account.
If necessary, those affected should file a complaint with the platform and break off communication. The technology for creating deepfakes, including AI-generated deepfakes of audio, image, or video content, is becoming more accessible and increasingly sophisticated.
The Consumer Protection Agency urges users to exercise caution when interacting with social media profiles, especially those offering financial or health-related products. By being vigilant and aware, users can protect themselves from falling victim to these types of scams.
