Bagged 900,000 euros with consoles and graphics cards

The Bavarian police have ended an extensive fraud on eBay classifieds. Criminals had pocketed around 900,000 euros with a large-scale scam involving game consoles and graphics cards. The three scammers are now in custody.

Consoles and graphics cards: eBay classifieds fraud exposed

Three men from Frankfurt am Main between the ages of 19 and 20 are in custody, according to the police headquarters in Lower Franconia and the public prosecutor’s office in Würzburg. The trio is accused of having fooled customers with fake sales via eBay classifieds. Overall, that’s how they should be raised around 900,000 euros to have.

The scam itself is not new. According to the police, Game consoles and graphics cards offered via previously hacked accounts. In order to underline the supposed seriousness, photos of ID cards of other fraud victims are said to have been used. However, the consoles and graphics cards on offer only existed on paper and never reached buyers from all over Germany.

Overall it should be almost 2,000 transfers came up with more than a hundred accounts that the suspects are said to have used for their scam. They are said to have spent the money on renting expensive cars and on trips and branded clothes. According to the police, a “luxurious lifestyle” was financed through the scams (source: Police headquarters in Lower Franconia).

There are also dangers lurking on the phone, as our video shows:

Fraud on eBay classifieds: Police give tips

After the successful investigation into goods fraud, the police headquarters in Lower Franconia has published some tips to protect yourself from fake sellers on eBay classifieds and other portals. Accordingly, customers should Conduct negotiations generally only on the platform itself and not, for example, switch to messengers like WhatsApp.

Photographs of ID documents should never be sent to sellers, even if they have already done so. Opening bank accounts in your own name for other people is also not a good idea. Such a suggestion should make you suspicious.