The Internet is a playground for scammers. They come up with new ideas constantly with which they lure people who use the Internet. This is particularly successful in children. In order to protect children and adolescents it helps to make oneself smart and to react attentively to inconsistencies or suspicious things.

A list of what fraudsters are doing to help you identify hazards for you and your children:

1. Lottery as a cost trap

• "You won" - I did not participate at all!
• I participated in the contest and is now to pay a processing fee.

How do I recognize "serious" profit games and when should I leave my fingers? Serious gambling is carried out by well-known vendors. However, it is important to note that the primary objective here is to generate personal data.

2. Lotteries as "data collection"

Lotteries on the net are like sand at the sea. Attractive rates lure around the clock. These profit games are used to collect addresses and data and to send targeted newsletters and advertisements. The collected data is used economically and sold to interested parties.

3. Phishing emails

Phishing is the targeted imitating of a trustworthy person or institution on the Internet. For example, it may be e.g. by e-mails, but also websites (e.g., from a bank). These are hardly distinguishable from the original, depending on the quality of the copy. The criminals' goal is to persuade the user to install a malicious program on their PC (e.g., by opening an email or their attachment) or disclose secret data (e.g., online banking data on a fake website). You protect yourself best against phishing by staying critical and relaxed. The fake e-mails are supposed to bring you about sharing your data by creating fear or the prospect of a profit. The e-mails are often not personalized (for example, "Dear Customer" and not your name in the cover letter), written in bad German, and they often show spelling mistakes. In case of doubt, call the alleged sender (e.g., your bank) before handing out your data anywhere. Even an updated browser and antivirus program can warn you of phishing, but do not rely on it in any case.

4. E-mail from the lawyer

With these mails fraudsters often try to make money (allegedly not paid bills etc.). They often threaten with the lawyer or the cashier's office.

• Check the sender. These mails often come from dubious people / companies.
• Repeat the reminders, if necessary, obtain the legal advice from a consumer center or a legal advisory.
• If the emails contain links, do not open them. There is a risk that you will download viruses.

5. Free APP'S

Good work costs money! A secure and mature app can rarely be downloaded free of charge or without the addition of "in-app purchases" (see below). In many cases, it is not possible to talk about free of charge as we often pay for the use of the apps with our data.

Geodata for the location, social data, health data, pictures and much more information are sold as data sets to well-paying companies. In addition, this data is used for advertising purposes to adapt the apps to the customer's behavior. This means that the customers receive personalized advertisers who are matched to their interests, which can significantly increase the purchasing power.

In-app purchases is a feature within an app (in both Android and iOS apps) that allows you to buy certain things within the actual free app. For example,

• Unlock premium features or upgrades in games: one of the most popular games with in-app purchases is Clash of Clans. Here you can buy useful functions with real money, which enable a faster ascent.
• For some apps, you can even subscribe via an in-app purchase. A certain amount is then payable at regular intervals for the use of the functions.

You pay via the respective app store: iOS with the iTunes credit, Android user with the payment method chosen in the Play Store. There is the possibility of deactivation:

• Disable in-app purchases on iOS devices: simply select Settings  General  Restrictions-Select  Restrictions. On the same page, disable the In-App purchases by using the slider.
• Disable Android in-app purchases: there is an additional lock, but in-app purchases on Android are not fully disabled. Open the Google Play Store  select the Set or change PIN option in Settings. With the PIN you set here, you will need to authorize yourself in the future in the Google Play Store before any in-app purchase or purchase.

6. Free Offers on Facebook

Especially on Facebook, but also in many advertising banner ads, one is tempted with free gifts. If you press the links, you are supposed to get an iPhone or iPad, vouchers or Facebook credits or you can participate in a Facebook lottery. The actual goal of these banners is to direct the visitors to an external website to elicit as much data as possible. This is done, for example, with forms that must be completed; A registration which is to be carried out; Etc.

7. Webshops with annual subscription

Webshops attract and matching offers on the screen as soon as you enter a search term in Google, Bing or Yahoo. Again and again, windows open, displaying actions. If one clicks on these advertising blocks and decides to purchase, it may be that one unintentionally acquires an annual subscription for a magazine, ringtones, etc.

8. Webshop does not deliver

On the net are numerous unreliable webshops on the way (Fakeshops). You pay in advance and never get the goods. These webshops are quickly disappeared and left behind cashless victims.This is often done with webshops, e.g. Quality electrical products cheaper. The potential buyers can order the goods in advance. The product is not delivered.

Such fakeshops are recognizable by the fact that

• the goods are offered at an unusually low price and are always available.
• the imprint is incomplete.
• the site contains numerous errors in spelling and grammar.
• important GTCs are missing, are faulty or copied from other sites.
• further areas of the website (bottoms) are empty or enriched with nonsensical filling texts.
• The domain name differs from the real manufacturer.
• the goods are usually only available against prepayment.
• a possible contact only in English or in bad German.
• You have not received a correct order confirmation.
• They are called unusual bank connections, which look more like private bank accounts.

vgl.: www.polizei-praevention.de

Advance funds should only be afforded by reputable, well-known providers. As a rule, the possibility is also given to reputable suppliers to pay by invoice or direct debit. It is also useful to take a closer look at the shop with tempting offers: search through the search engines via the provider, contact the provider (only email contact should be suspicious) or check the domain name Help from special services like denic.de

What to do if you're tricked in by a fake shop? Please report it to your local police station immediately and contact your bank as soon as possible in order to cancel the payment.

9. Ramp off with ESTA requests

In order to be able to enter America (USA?) you have to make an electronic travel application. For this there is an official form and the application costs 14 dollars. You have to be very careful not to get a web site that offers unnecessary help for the completion of this application and to fully pay off, a multiple of the actual sum.
Hier finden Sie das offizielle Formular: www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov

10. Business Directory fraudsters

Companies are registered in the business directory, which can be searched through the Internet. From time to time, doctors and small businesses get mails to confirm the correctness of the entries or make new entries. With the new entries or the filling out of a form one takes a performance and gets an invoice for it.

11. The Intelligence Test, tests in general

Tests generally boom on all possible life-related issues. Especially intelligence or IQ tests on the Internet are almost as popular as to google themselves. You can find an almost unmanageable number of free tests. Most of these are also harmless. Hands off, if one has to report data after completing the test before the results are shown.

ADDITIONAL: To find out who is using your address

The data processing register is a public register. Anyone can see for free. The DVR number must always be stated on business papers. Using of the DVR number (Für Österreich: Bundeskanzleramt Hohenstaufengasse 3, 1010 Wien; E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) you can find out who is the sender of the message/email/letter. Companies using data must have the highest possible level of protection according to the state of the art. Protocol and documentation data may only be used for control purposes and shall be kept for three years. All employees are obliged to keep the data known to them.