Recently, the Police have received a large number of reports from victims who sold items on websites and ended up having their payment cards abused.
This year, we have already received approximately 230 such reports, with total damages amounting to more than 230,000 EUR. In 2024, there were seventy such reports, with damages amounting to 50,000 EUR.
How does online fraud happen
- You list the item for sale on a website.
- Shortly after listing the item, you are contacted, via a text message or an app (Viber, WhatsApp), by online fraudsters who are interested in the item and very quickly decide to buy it.
- The fraudsters offer payment via the "Brez skrbi" [no worries] service or delivery services.
- They send you a message with a clickable link.
- When you click on the link, a website opens (the website looks identical to a Slovenian delivery service website or a Slovenian online banking website).
- In the next step, you are asked to enter your payment card details – number, expiry date and security code.
- Your payment card details are stolen and abused by online fraudsters.
- If you clicked on a link and a website that looks like your bank's website opened, and you entered your username and password, they can then access your bank and empty your bank account!
Police are issuing a warning to online sellers
The Police advise you to follow these tips and recommendations.
- Funds can only be sent to a bank account number and not to a payment card number, so if you are a seller, do not disclose your payment card details to anyone.
- Do not click on any link you receive, as they may lead to fraudsters, even if the website looks legitimate.
- If after clicking on a link, a website opens, requesting you to enter your payment card details, do not enter anything and close the website.
- If you have entered your credit card details on a fake website, contact your bank immediately!
- If you have suffered financial damage, report the matter to the nearest police station as soon as possible.