Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Cybercrime
Cybercrime - Credit: KirillM / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Crime
Health
Coronavirus
Covid-19
scam
fraud
cybercrime
police
LMIO
Gijs van der Linden
Theo van der Plas
Wednesday, 1 April 2020 - 15:20
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Police take ten scam coronavirus webshops offline

Over the past weeks, the Dutch police took down ten web shops who were selling coronavirus related scams. These online stores offered items ranging from antibacterial bank cards, to a Covid-19 tracker, and included multiple web shops offering medical masks for sale, the police said in a statement.

According to the police, anti-coronavirus measures restricting people to their homes, combined with uncertainty and the need for information that entails, make fertile ground for cyber criminals. The police haven't seen a noticeable increase in online crime, but did notice that criminals are taking advantage of current events. For example, a fake email made to look like it came from the RIVM was infecting computers with malware. And there was a fake WhatsApp message about a benefit for people out of work due to the virus, through which criminals tried to get bank details.

The national hotline for online fraud LMIO received many reports about suspicious web shops offering corona related products over the past weeks. Investigation resulted in 10 such online stores being taken offline. "We are trying to thwart criminals and disrupt their fraudulent practices so that no more people are victims,' Gijs van der Linden of LMIO said. "We take the measure that has the fastest effect, the most effect. That's not always looking for the one behind it."

The police warn that cyber criminals will continue to abuse this crisis for as long as it continues. "It is therefore important that people also take precautions themselves," said Theo van der Plas, program manager of Digitization and Crime at the police. "For example, by properly securing devices. We hear that older computers are dusted off so that every family member can work at home. Then make sure that the security is up to date with the most recent anti-virus programs."

"It also doesn't hurt to take a critical look at your passwords use a long sentence for that," Van der Plas advised. "And never just click on a link. Official authorities and banks never ask for personal information via text message, email or app."

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Full urn found on Zuid-Holland beach returned to relatives
  • Ajax fines Steven Berghuis for hitting a fan after season-ending loss
  • Farmers' party BBB could get 18 seats in Senate election tomorrow
  • New record for negative electricity prices due to sunny, windy weather
  • Suspects in Peter R. de Vries murder directly link to criminal kingpin Taghi: report
  • Victim in possible Spanbroek abduction spotted at Beverwijk station

Top stories

  • Police taser man on Rotterdam highway; Crashed into several people, cars
  • PM Rutte congratulates Erdogan on election victory; Dutch-Turks celebrate
  • Sunny and dry weather on last day of Pentecost long weekend
  • Man found dead in apartment in Den Bosch after laying undiscovered for five months
  • Explosion at Surinamese money exchange office in Rotterdam, suspect on the run
  • Almost 1580 XR climate activists arrested on A12, 40 prosecuted

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content