Paraná civil police warn about false sale scam on social media

Paraná's civil police have issued a warning about a scam involving fake sales on social media. Scammers create fraudulent listings to trick buyers into making payments. Authorities urge caution when making online purchases

photo taken from the police station in Paraná

The Paraná Civil Police (PCPR) has issued a warning to the public about a social media scam involving fake sales. This scam happens when criminals hack social media profiles and offer products at very attractive prices. These posts usually advertise items in excellent condition and at prices far below market value.

According to Delegate José Barreto of the Cybercrime Combat Center (Nuciber), the scammers initiate negotiations as soon as interested buyers appear, usually people known to the hacked account holder. During the negotiation, the criminals offer the product at a very low price, for example, a television worth R$ 5,000 being sold for R$ 2,000. The victim makes the payment via Pix or bank transfer but never receives the product, ending up at a loss.

Delegate Barreto warns that it is necessary to be suspicious of too-good-to-be-true offers made by contacts on social media, especially if the name on the bank account for the transfer is not that of the acquaintance. He recommends that, in case of doubt, the person should contact the seller via phone, video call, or arrange an in-person meeting to confirm the sale.

To prevent profiles from being hacked, the PCPR suggests being cautious of any received links and not clicking on them. Another tip is to enable two-factor authentication, preferably through an authenticator app. If one falls victim to the scam, they should immediately file a police report, which can be done online on the PCPR website to avoid unnecessary travel. The victim should also inform their contacts that the profile was hacked so that no one else falls for the scam.

Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL-qL9xM9UY by Programa do Tatu