Deceitful individuals tricking car dealerships in sales scams
In a concerning turn of events, the leading car dealer, Koch Autogroup, based in South Germany, has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. The incident, which occurred earlier this year, resulted in the loss of approximately 60,000 euros.
The scam began with an email that appeared to be from DB Autohaus, a familiar name to the Koch Autogroup. The email contained offers for used Audi models, allegedly decommissioned vehicles from the German Railway (DB). However, upon closer inspection, it was determined that the offered vehicles did not exist, and the email was a convincing fake.
The payment for three Audi models was instructed via the email, and the delivery of the vehicles never arrived after the payment was made. The fraudsters' bank account, onto which the large sum of money was transferred, was found to be real.
This is not the first time that the Koch Autogroup has been targeted. In the past, their online ads were hacked, causing the used cars to appear with significantly reduced prices and false phone numbers.
In response to these incidents, the Koch Autogroup has taken measures to adjust its processes when buying used cars. They now call the official number and check the IBAN to verify the legitimacy of transactions.
The increase in such scams is a worrying trend. Cybercrime has been steadily increasing for years, with the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) reporting a 10.8% increase in recorded cybercrimes in Baden-Württemberg in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Prosecution of cybercrime offenders is difficult due to the fact that perpetrators can operate from anywhere in the world with internet access. Small and medium-sized businesses are recommended to invest specifically in their IT security to keep the risk of a successful attack low, according to the LKA.
Audi has also reported around 200 affected customers in a series of fraud cases involving fake offers from the automaker. Similarly, a spokesperson for the German Railway (DB) has reported around 100 affected parties in a similar scam involving decommissioned vehicles.
The threat level for companies in South Germany remains high, according to a spokesperson for our website. The LKA warns that the threat from cybercrime is still high, and businesses must remain vigilant to protect themselves and their customers.
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