- Recent Increase: There has been a notable rise in fraud cases through social media platforms like Instagram. Here are some specific examples of recent scams:
- Concert Ticket Scam:
- A person attempted to buy concert tickets through an Instagram contact who seemed to be a scalper. After transferring payment for the tickets and an additional “agency fee” to a designated bank account, they were contacted by someone pretending to be a bank representative. This person requested an additional payment through a special site for “verification purposes,” which led to the stolen amount being deducted from their account. The tickets never arrived, and contact with both the scalper and the supposed bank representative ceased.
- Cheap Airline Tickets:
- An individual found a deal for inexpensive tickets to Japan on Instagram and communicated with the agent via WhatsApp. After paying for tickets for four family members through a bank transfer, communication stopped. The scammer’s messages included airline domain information and standard queries, making the scam difficult to detect.
- Concert Tickets in Jakarta:
- Attempting to buy tickets for a concert in Jakarta via Instagram, the person was directed to contact a representative through WhatsApp. After paying for the tickets, the representative claimed that the tickets were sold out but offered to secure “golden seats” for an additional fee. The person requested a refund upon suspicion, but communication was lost.
- iPhone 15 Purchase:
- Attempting to purchase an iPhone 15, the person was directed to contact an Instagram account claiming to be iBox when the official site showed an error. They were asked to provide personal details and make a payment to a specified account. The product never arrived, and it was later discovered that the Instagram account was a fake.
- Precautions:
- Verify Legitimacy: Always confirm if the Instagram account or social media site is legitimate before engaging in any transactions.
- Be Wary of Promises: Be cautious of offers that use terms like “hard-to-get,” “cheap,” or “rare” when selling tickets or products. Many scams involve directing victims to communicate through WhatsApp, where personal information is collected, and payments are demanded before contact is lost.
- Avoid Unverified Contacts: Refrain from making purchases from unverified sources and always use official channels for transactions.
By staying vigilant and verifying the legitimacy of offers and contacts, you can help avoid falling victim to these scams.
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