Users of classified ads, particularly those on Kleinanzeigen.de, should be on high alert these days. The Schleswig-Holstein consumer center has issued a warning about a nasty fraud scam targeting users of the platform. It seems that cybercriminals are sending phishing emails to potential victims, and these emails can be quite convincing at first glance.
The phishing emails display the well-known green logo with the lettering “classified ads” and have a subject line that reads: “Your account for classified ads is blocked”. The email starts with an impersonal greeting, such as “good day” or “dear user”, and claims that the classified ads team has blocked the user’s account due to suspicious activity. To restore access, the user is prompted to click on a button labeled “Verify your account” within 24 hours to prevent permanent blocking.
So, how can you recognize this fraud? The phishing email contains typical features of a fraudulent message, including a sense of urgency and a threat of account blocking. However, it’s impersonal, as the attackers lack concrete data about the potential victims, such as their names. If you hover over the sender’s email address, you’ll notice that it doesn’t come from Kleinanzeigen.de.
If you receive such an email, it’s essential to react correctly. Ideally, you should report the mail to your email provider. If that seems too complex, you can simply delete the email. But whatever you do, don’t click on the link in the email.
For more information on how to protect yourself from such scams, you can check out some of our previous articles on classified ads. We’ve got tips and tricks for using eBay classifieds, as well as information on what happened when eBay classifieds disappeared. We’ve also exposed some of the most common fraud scams related to classified ads, so you can stay safe and informed.
This is how you recognize the fraud
The key to avoiding this scam is to be cautious and aware of the warning signs. If an email is impersonal, creates a sense of urgency, and asks you to click on a link to verify your account, it’s likely a phishing attempt. Always hover over the sender’s email address to check if it’s legitimate, and never click on suspicious links.
So they react correctly
If you receive a suspicious email, don’t panic. Instead, report it to your email provider or simply delete it. Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your online security.
