Internet scams are becoming more elaborate and dangerous for millions of users who make their purchases and sales online. We must be vigilant so as not to become victims, as is the case with this one that the National Police and the Ministry of the Interior warn us about.
And despite all the precautions that we take over time to avoid falling into the trap in one way or another, it always seems that the attackers are one step ahead. This is mainly because they look for new tactics and techniques to try to deceive us and get our data and money. This is precisely the case that concerns us in these same lines with a three-way scam that is being detected on certain and well-known platforms.
Specifically, we are referring to those applications that are in use today such as Wallapop or Vinted and that are being used for these purposes. We are talking about applications that allow us to buy and sell all types of products, both new and second-hand, to any other user. Hence, below we are going to talk to you about this scam in which 3 actors come into play so that you can avoid it if you detect something strange.
And the consequences of it, if we become victims, can be quite serious and can even cause us problems with the Law. Hence precisely the warning that the National Police is issuing at this moment so that we are attentive in transactions in these platforms.
What does this new scam on Wallapop or Vinted consist of?
In these times it has become quite common to make our purchases on this type of second-hand buying and selling platforms. The scam itself begins when we find a new product offered in one of these applications, at an interesting price. In reality, a scammer is selling this product, but with the peculiarity that he sends it to us and we actually receive it at home.
But of course, to receive that new product at a discounted price, we must first provide certain personal information, including banking information. And there we have already fallen into the trap. At first we did not suspect anything since we received the purchase without any problem, but the scammer already has our data to use in the purchase of another same or similar product.
All this in order to put it up for sale again for the same purpose, but using the bank details of the scammed person.
How to avoid the triangle scam
Evidently, the product received was purchased by the scammers with the money of other previous victims. And that is precisely the biggest problem. In the event that we make a report, the Police will associate the purchase of the product received with a user who was also previously deceived, hence the legal problems you could have. In reality, the scammers don’t appear anywhere and tracking them down will be really complicated for the authorities.
Therefore, in order not to become victims, the first thing we should do is distrust the great offers we find on the Internet. Furthermore, it will always be more than advisable to use the payment methods that that specific platform offers us and not give private data to private sellers.
Of course, we must always pay close attention to the seller’s ratings, and if there is even the slightest suspicion, it is better to avoid the purchase. Many times it is worth paying a little more in exchange for being sure that what we buy is 100% legitimate. And, whenever possible, prefer hand-dealing instead of making the purchase online.
