Payment service provider customers should be wary of email. It leads the recipients to make a huge mistake.
Dortmund – Alleged phishing emails aim to steal private data such as passwords and usernames. Cybercriminals can use this information to carry out further fraudulent activities. Customers of payment service provider Klarna are currently affected by this type of fraud. This way you can protect yourself from impending danger (read more about digital information on RUHR24).
Money Trap Warning: Thousands of Klarna customers are currently at risk
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) estimates the financial damages caused by the aforementioned fraud at “an amount of at least two million” per year. Once criminals successfully gain access to bank accounts, they are able to conduct transactions.
To ensure that consumers do not fall into a money trap, the Consumer Advice Center regularly publishes warnings on the topic of phishing. Currently (May 21), Klarna customers in particular need to take care of their personal information. There is an email circulating in the name of the payment service provider that aims to intercept this from customers.
Money Trap Warning: Klarna customers receive a phishing email
In terms of content, this email contains all the typical criteria of a phishing attempt. Consumer advocates explain that the subject “Action required: Renew your direct debit authorization” contains a typo. Impersonal language used is also a sign of a scam that consumers should be suspicious of.
This is followed by Klarna users being asked to act as quickly as possible, as their direct debit authorization is due to expire. “Only by re-legalizing before the expiration of the deadline can continued smooth use be ensured,” the criminals are instructed.
Money Trap Warning: Move phishing email to your spam folder
As BSI explains, phishing emails usually contain a link. This leads unsuspecting consumers to a website manipulated by cyber criminals. Once customers enter their payment information to renew the authentication, the trap is closed (read more about the warnings on RUHR24).
For this reason, the Consumer Advice Center recommends that you do not click the “Reactivate Now” button. Klarna customers must under no circumstances comply with the request contained in a phishing email. Instead, it's important to “move the message to your spam folder without replying.”
Essentially, consumers should note the following: Once they can answer yes to questions like “Are personal data and security information being requested?” and “Is the sender pressuring you to take action?” This is a clear sign of a fraud attempt. Payment service provider Klarna also advises against responding to the fraudulent message.
