General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime warns of fake online stores and fraud

GDBOP warns of online scams with fake stores

The "Cybercrime" department of the General Directorate "Combating Organized Crime" (GDBOP) is issuing a serious warning to internet users. In an official message published on the directorate's Facebook page, experts are raising the alarm about a new wave of fake online profiles and websites that are dangerously copying promotional campaigns of real commercial companies.

According to information from GDBOP, numerous fraudulent pages have been detected in recent days, recreating the look and products of legitimate online stores down to the smallest detail. These fake platforms are particularly active during discount seasons or holidays when consumers are most likely to be looking for good deals. Criminals take advantage of this to mislead customers with even "better" offers and even by organizing online games with tempting prizes.

Their main goal is to convince people that they are on a credible and secure site and to make them pay with a bank card only. This payment method is key for scammers, as it allows them to quickly and easily gain access to their victims' financial data.

Experts from the "Cybercrime" department provide clear and specific recommendations to protect citizens from such scams. First and foremost, users should always check whether they are visiting the official website of the company. On social networks, it is mandatory to check the store's profile – when it was created, how many followers it has, and especially whether it is verified with a blue checkmark. "If it has few or no followers – it is fake!", GDBOP categorically warns.

If, despite precautionary measures, a user falls victim to a scam, GDBOP advises reporting it immediately. This can be done both through the reporting system of the respective social network and directly to the "Cybercrime" directorate of GDBOP.

Combating counterfeits

This is not the first time the authorities have confronted fake goods and scams. In the first quarter of the year, the police seized over 902,000 counterfeit goods. Among the most common are:

• Textiles
• Sportswear and shoes
• Various accessories
• Children's toys

These data highlight the scale of the problem. In April, a large-scale joint operation by the Sofia Directorate of the Interior, "Customs - Sofia" and the National Revenue Agency was carried out, during which over 24,000 counterfeit items were found. These actions show the determination of state institutions to fight the spread of counterfeits, which cause significant damage to both the economy and consumers.