New scheme: how scammers steal money from sellers and landlords

New scheme: Fraudsters are presented by “buyers”, promise depositbut require these cards – and devastate the score.

A new, quite elegant Telephone fraud schemedesigned for people who place ads about sale or rental. In fact, everything is simple: the attacker calls, pretends to be an interested buyer or employer, promises to introduce Preliminary deposit And asks for a bank account number. Then it follows “Technical problem” with a translation, and supposedly out of polite care a fraudster asks for data bank card – After which the account is empty.

New scheme: how fraudsters “rip off” money from ads pic.twitter.com/x7gx9tkcfx

– Athens News (@russianathens) September 30, 2025

In the described case, the victim, gentleman Georgos DamatisHe told the TV channel that the scammer prepared in advance the “scenery of trust”: during a conversation against the backdrop, children’s voices were clearly heard to create the impression that the interlocutor was a family man and he can be believed. According to Mr. Damatis, the attacker said that he was in the neighboring city – in Volcannot come and therefore wants to first “secure” the transaction with a translation.

At first, the victim without fears gave an account number, and then the fraudster began to complain about the problems with E-Banking and insisted on entering the card data: “This is a standard procedure,” he assured. Mr. Damatis, suspecting something was amiss, said that the transfer to the card was impossible, but the story of “children in the room” and played haste worked for confidence – the scheme was thought out to details.

It is important to understand that such a scam is now not limited only to ads for the sale of cars. Fraudsters also act as alleged tenants, explaining urgent crossings or emergency need, and ask to “help” the translation. Their goal is unchanged – to receive these cards and write off funds from the victim’s bank account.

The tips are simple, but vital: never transmit these card data by phone; For prepayment, use only verified services or safe transfer on bank details (and confirm the receipt of funds before the transfer of goods); If something “unusual” (children’s voices, strong pressure, rush) sounds in the conversation, stop and call back to the customer’s official number or agree on a video call.

Police and consumer organizations also recommend that the screenshots of correspondence and records of the calls, and at the first attempt to write off, contact the bank to block operations and law enforcement agencies with a statement. The schemes are changing, but the basic protection remains the same: sound skepticism and information verification.

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