Fake Facebook sales scam in Slovenia steals personal data through emotional posts

In recent months, a new wave of online fraud has swept across Slovenia, targeting Facebook users through emotionally charged posts and fake giveaways. An investigation by Slovenian media outlet Oštro has uncovered a sophisticated scam operation that tricks users into revealing personal and banking information, leading to significant financial losses. This alarming trend is emblematic of a broader rise in online fraud in Slovenia and highlights the increasing risks users face on social media platforms.

The scam centers around fraudulent Facebook pages that impersonate former employees of Big Bang, a well-known Slovenian electronics retailer. These fake profiles claim to sell leftover warehouse items-such as electric scooters, coffee machines, and other electronics-at drastically discounted prices. What makes the scam particularly effective is the use of emotional storytelling to engage potential victims.

One such post shared a heart-wrenching story: “I was fired from Big Bang after 10 years of work. They told me they no longer need me. I am still shaken by their behavior.” The poster then purportedly offers to give away products from the warehouse as compensation. This narrative taps into users’ sympathy and encourages them to interact with the post, increasing the scam’s reach and impact.

From these Facebook pages, users are directed to external websites designed to mimic legitimate brand surveys or prize games. These sites ask seemingly innocent questions-like the user’s favorite coffee type-and then lead users to a virtual “prize wheel.” The wheel always lands on a free prize, enticing the user to claim it.

To collect their “prize,” victims are asked to enter detailed personal information, including full name, address, and critically, credit card details. This information is then harvested by scammers for fraudulent purposes.

Slovenia’s national cyber security center, SI-CERT, has classified this as a classic “hidden subscription scam.” Many victims believe they are making a one-time payment or covering a small shipping fee to receive their prize. However, in reality, they are unknowingly enrolled in recurring subscription plans, often with significant monthly charges.

Victims frequently report that they never receive the promised products. Instead, they face repeated unauthorized charges on their credit cards, which can be difficult to detect and stop. This kind of subscription fraud preys on users’ trust and lack of awareness about how such scams operate.

SI-CERT’s warnings emphasize that these recurring payments are not just one-off mistakes but part of an organized scheme that drains victims financially over time.

The Oštro investigation revealed that the scam websites were registered on the same day through a US-based domain registrar, often using privacy services to obscure the true ownership. This points to a coordinated international scam ring rather than random, isolated incidents.

Moreover, the scammers employ fake Facebook profiles to lend credibility to their posts. For instance, a profile under the name Nina Kovač was linked to a photo traced back to a Czech woman with no ties to the scam. The profile was created just days before promotional posts began appearing, a telltale sign of a fabricated identity designed purely to deceive.

Such coordination and use of falsified online identities make it increasingly difficult for social media platforms to detect and shut down these scams promptly.

Online fraud in Slovenia has surged alarmingly. According to SI-CERT, there were over 2,700 recorded cases of online fraud in 2023, more than double the number from 2022. This spike underscores the urgency of addressing growing cyber threats and educating the public on digital safety.

The increasing sophistication of scams-from phishing emails to social engineering tactics-requires enhanced vigilance by both users and authorities.

This Facebook sales scam is part of a larger pattern of deceptive content flourishing across Meta platforms (which include Facebook and Instagram). Fake online stores, misleading medical advertisements, and impersonation of public figures and reputable media outlets have all been documented globally.

Such scams exploit the trust people place in social media networks and manipulate social proof-likes, shares, and comments-to appear legitimate. Emotional appeals, like those used in the Slovenian scam, amplify this effect by creating a sense of urgency or sympathy that overrides users’ typical caution.

Despite ongoing efforts, tech giants like Meta have faced criticism for not doing enough to prevent the spread of fraudulent content. In this particular case, Meta had removed the fraudulent pages by the time the investigation was published, but the persistence and adaptability of scam operations remain a major challenge.

In response to the rise of such scams, SI-CERT offers several practical tips for users to safeguard their personal information and finances:

Verify unfamiliar pages: Before engaging with sales offers or giveaways, check the legitimacy of the Facebook page or website. Look for verified badges, examine the page’s history, and be wary of newly created accounts.

Avoid sharing sensitive data: Never enter credit card details or personal information on websites or links received through unsolicited Facebook posts or messages.

Be skeptical of “too good to be true” offers: If a deal or giveaway sounds unusually generous or urgent, it likely is a scam.

Report suspicious activity: Use Facebook’s reporting tools to flag fraudulent pages and posts, helping the platform act faster to remove them.

Use credit cards with fraud protection: Consider using credit cards that offer better protection against unauthorized charges, and monitor your statements regularly.

Educate others: Share information about common scams with friends and family, especially those who may be less tech-savvy.

The fake Facebook sales scam in Slovenia is a stark reminder of the dangers lurking on social media platforms. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly adept at manipulating emotions and fabricating credible personas to exploit users’ trust. As online fraud cases surge, individuals must remain vigilant and skeptical of suspicious offers.

Authorities like SI-CERT play a crucial role in tracking and exposing these scams, but user awareness and cautious online behavior remain the first line of defense. Only through combined efforts of users, platforms, and regulators can the tide of social media scams be stemmed-protecting people’s privacy, finances, and peace of mind in an increasingly digital world.

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Jennifer Hicks is a columnist and political commentator writing on a large range of topics.

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