Overview

• Verbraucherzentrale Hessen issued a formal warning on Monday about fraudulent accounts that mimic well-known people to create trust.
• Scammers most often push supposed investment opportunities and health or lifestyle products, frequently pairing posts with fabricated celebrity endorsements.
• A recent case in Hanau used fake Instagram profiles of Mayor Claus Kaminsky to steer users into WhatsApp groups offering paid ‘lucrative’ investment tips.
• Officials highlight red flags such as newly created accounts, usernames with odd characters or numbers, unusual response patterns, and sparse activity.
• Users are advised to report suspicious profiles, cut off contact, avoid transfers to unknown accounts, and consider filing a police complaint as deepfakes become more convincing and accessible.