A phishing email is currently being circulated which promises reimbursement from the Federal Ministry of Health. The email contains a request for the recipient to send back a copy of their own identity card in order to receive payment. The North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center has issued a warning about these emails. The fraudulent emails are not from the ministry, as can be seen from the email address.
Recipients should not send a copy of the front and back of their ID card, as this may lead to identity theft. Criminals could use the ID to take out paid subscriptions, set up user accounts and order goods. Consumer advocates explain that no authority would ask addressees to send unencrypted copies of important documents.
The email address contains a longer part “bundesministerial reimbursement”, which appears genuine, but the domain part “faedo” is suspicious as it has nothing to do with a federal ministry. Recipients should not respond to such emails.
This warning is similar to a recent one from the Hamburg consumer advice center, which alerted consumers to a fraudulent scam in fake online shops. The scam used Paypal’s “send money to a friend” option to bypass buyer protection and steal money from victims.
As these types of scams become more sophisticated, it’s important for consumers to stay vigilant and protect their personal information. Never send sensitive personal details over email or to unknown individuals or companies. Always verify the authenticity of any payment requests or reimbursement offers before proceeding. Trust your instincts and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
