With the onset of winter, scammers posing as online stores are expected to become more active.
The press service of the Internal Affairs Department of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee warns about this on Telegram.
Scammers often attract customers with promotions and low prices on seasonal goods: New Year trees and decorations, winter clothes and shoes, household appliances, smartphones, and tourist trips.
As a rule, scammers ask for an advance payment or to pay for delivery.
By doing this, you will at best be left without the goods. Having taken possession of a person's personal data, fraudsters can apply for an online loan in his name or steal money.
To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, you should only make purchases in official online stores.
Communication with the seller via private messages, goods “only on order”, prepayments and card-to-card transfers are clear signs of fraud.
Don’t forget to warn your friends and especially elderly relatives about these fraudulent schemes, the Internal Affairs Directorate urged.