UP warns: Increased risk of various forms of internet fraud and financial schemes

The Police Directorate (UP) announced that it is warning citizens of the increased risk of various forms of internet fraud and financial schemes that, through social networks, applications and communication platforms, such as Telegram and WhatsApp, present themselves as an opportunity to make quick and easy money.

According to them, special attention should be paid to platforms that offer citizens earnings through so-called AI projects, digital tasks, crypto assets, subscription packages, "AI chip" or other membership levels, while simultaneously offering additional earnings for bringing in new users.

"How to recognize a potentially risky scheme? Citizens are advised to be especially cautious if they are required to: pay money to "unlock" access to jobs or enable higher earnings; promise high and guaranteed returns with minimal effort and no risk; purchase different packages, membership levels, "AI chips" or similar products in order to generate more income; pay additional money to enable the payment of previously generated earnings; pay "taxes", verification fees, "gas fees" or other costs before the funds are paid; bring in new members to earn a commission; pay in cryptocurrencies, especially when it is not clear who manages the platform; provide bank card data, access data or private keys to crypto wallets," the Police Directorate (UP) said in a statement.

Special caution, UP adds, is also needed when using referral links.

"Citizens should be aware that the person who sends them an invitation or referral link may gain financial benefit if a new user registers, makes a deposit, or activates a certain package. The fact that someone else uses a certain platform or shows earned earnings is not proof that the platform is safe or legitimate. One should not trust earnings displays through screenshots of account balances, displayed amounts of alleged earnings, videos of "successful users" or positive comments on social networks, because they are not in themselves proof that the invested and allegedly earned funds are actually available for payment," the statement reads.

In some fraudulent schemes, the police add, the user may initially be offered a smaller payment in order to gain their trust and encourage them to make larger payments later.

"Before making any payment, it is necessary to: check the full name and registered office of the legal entity that manages the platform; check whether the company is registered and who the responsible persons are; check whether the provision of the offered financial or crypto service requires a permit from the competent regulator; carefully read the terms of use, the method of calculating earnings and the conditions for payment; do not make a decision to pay under pressure, due to time-limited offers or promises of secure earnings; do not provide PINs, passwords, verification codes or private keys to crypto wallets," it states.

The police add that if you suspect that you have been scammed, you are advised to immediately stop further communication and not make additional payments, as well as to save communication, links, usernames, phone numbers, email addresses, transaction confirmations and other available evidence.

"The case should be reported to the Police Directorate, and in the case of financial transactions made, contact the bank or other payment service provider without delay to check the possibility of stopping or canceling the transaction. The Police Directorate reminds citizens that there is no guaranteed easy income via the internet and calls for special caution when high earnings are linked to a prior payment of money, bringing in new members or other conditions that require additional financial investments," the statement reads.