This is normally committed when someone is selling something online and in person. The ‘buyer’ who is the cybercriminal, send the seller a legitimate looking cheque for the goods. However, this cheque is for more than the seller priced the item. The cybercriminal creates an explanation and requests the seller to transfer the money back. The seller does, but the cheque is fake, stolen or bounces and the cybercriminal is no longer contactable. Not only has the seller potentially already sent and lost the item they believed had ‘sold’ but they have also sent money to the cybercriminal and is not likely to be able to retrieve it.

Cybercriminals target their victims by making promises of inheritance and investment. These offers are usually too good to be true. The cybercriminals offer this in exchange for an ‘admin fee’ or a ‘transaction fee’. The victim pay, but never receives inheritance or an investment into anything. The cybercriminal then cuts all contact.

Victims of this cybercrime usually receive a phone call explaining how the victim has won the lottery or a prize. The cybercriminal then over the phone asks for a ‘processing fee’ or a ‘tax’ to claim it. The victim does this but never receives any money or prize and the cybercriminal becomes uncontactable.

Cybercriminals list a property for rent. Once a victim agrees the property is fit for purpose and wants to rent it, the cybercriminal requests various fees as well as a deposit . Once they have paid this sum of money, the criminal removes all adverts for the property along with any form of contact with the victim. This can also happen the other way round where the victim is the landlord. A property is advertised for rent and a cybercriminal shoes interest and sends a fraudulent cheque to the landlord. However, the cybercriminal then changes their mind and requests that the landlord transfers the money back. The landlord does, but is unaware the cheque is fraudulent, it then bounces and the landlord is scammed out of money.

Cybercriminals target the elderly for this scam. They pretend to be grandchildren to the victim in desperate need of help. With stories of sickness, being assaulted, arrested or just an urgent situation. The cybercriminal then asks for money from the elderly. The elderly victims then fall for this, worrying for their family and transfer the money via online banking.

Victims end up talking to potential partners online. In some occasions, the potential partner is just a cybercriminal. The victim is then asked to transfer money, after building up a relationship with the fraudster. The explanation being some emotional or emergency situation. But as the victim believes they are developing a relationship, they care for the fake dating site user, and transfer the money. The fake account is then deleted so the victim can no longer get in contact with the criminal.