The expert spoke about a new scheme of fraud with the return of goods

Alla Khrapunova, director of the Fund For Borrowers' Rights and curator of the Mousetrap platform of the Popular Front, spoke about the new fraud scheme. According to her, in two years a dangerous community has appeared on the Russian Internet — "black referrers". They use consumer protection mechanisms to receive goods for free or at great discounts and then resell them, damaging businesses from appliances and clothing to flower shops.

In an interview with Radio 1 on Tuesday, April 7, she noted that if you remove the prefix "black", we are talking about the usual opportunity to return the wrong product, but fraudsters have turned this mechanism into a deception tool.

The expert said that channels with instructions on how to abuse the dispute system appeared on the network: one of the most common schemes was the deception of online flower delivery, when customers specify the wrong address, and third parties pick up the order, after which they claim that they have not received anything.

According to her, attackers act through pressure on marketplaces: they accuse the seller of non-conformity of the product and demand a large discount or a full refund without refunding the purchase. The expert stressed that sellers suffer losses, and fraudsters take advantage of their legal illiteracy, threatening complaints and courts.

She added that the phenomenon is not yet widespread, but it is alarming, especially because of the involvement of young people. According to her, criminal liability is provided for such actions, and digital footprints make it possible to identify violators, so sellers should strengthen control, and buyers should remember the consequences of "easy money."

From a kind of fraud: how the return of goods turned into a scheme to deceive sellers

Professional "returnees" are ruining sellers of machinery, clothing and flowers

Earlier on April 7, State Duma Deputy Dmitry Svishchev reported that fraudsters had begun using a scheme to substitute QR codes for payment. Because of this, buyers' money can go to the accounts of intruders.

On April 3, the press service of the Moshelovka platform of the Popular Front announced a new fraud scheme. Scammers place ads for "easy part-time work", offering to apply for loans or installments for a percentage, ostensibly on behalf of the employer. As a result, a person remains in debt and risks becoming an accomplice of scammers. Experts warn that offers of "easy money" for the use of personal data are a clear sign of fraud. 360.ru .

In March, it was reported that fraudsters began offering customers in Russia their favorite products on marketplaces cheaper and stealing money. To do this, hackers hack into customer accounts and analyze their purchase histories, the website writes. kp.ru . Analysts note that the scheme is dangerous because of its personalization: a person is offered exactly what he was looking for, which reduces vigilance and distrust, writes NSN. Users were reminded that real sellers do not call with "favorable offers" and do not send payment links outside the official sites.

Also in March, it was reported that Russia may allow self-locking of purchases on marketplaces. According to the deputies, this will help citizens to protect themselves from unnecessary expenses, writes RT.

Earlier, expert Timofey Voronin warned that a new telephone fraud scheme disguised as the delivery of cosmetic products had been recorded in the Russian Federation. Fraudsters disguise themselves as couriers to lure SMS codes, notes Pravda.Ru .

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