The European Consumer Centres Network issues a warning over scam emails using ECC names and logos. The emails state the recipient has fallen victim to a fraudulent broker and claim to offer help. These emails are fake and were not sent by an ECC-Net office. Have you received a suspicious email? Read about what you can do.

What to look out for

Cybercriminals use phishing emails to ‘fish’ for sensitive information and to steal money. A recent fake email states the recipient has fallen victim to a fraudulent broker based in Cyprus. The email claims to offer help in retrieving the lost investment and asks the recipient to provide details of a bank transaction. The email may also include a fake ‘contract’, which states that the recipient of the email is liable to pay a sum of money in certain cases.

The recent fake email uses names and personal details of employees of the European Consumer Centre in Cyprus. The emails also use ECC and European Union logos. ECC Cyprus has filed a report with the Cyprus police, who are investigating the case.

Important information

• A European Consumer Centre will never ask you for a payment. All ECC services are completely free of charge.
• A European Consumer Centre will never send you unsolicited emails offering services. You will only be contacted by an ECC if you yourself have contacted the ECC first.
• Are you currently receiving help from a local ECC? Please note that you will only be in contact with ECC employees from your local ECC, not with ECC employees from other countries in the network.

Actions you can take

 Have you spotted a suspicious email? Do not respond to the email, click on any links or open any attachments. Find the official contact details for your local European Consumer Centre and contact them. Your local ECC will be able to tell you whether an email is genuine and can help warn other consumers about the scam email if necessary.

From customisable jewellery to real leather belts and life experience boxes, Valentine's Day gift ideas are flourishing on the Internet. But there is only one step from love to purchase and from purchase to scam. To avoid being hit in the heart by an arrow other than cupid's, the European Consumer Centre Iceland delivers useful advice.

Beware of dropshipping sites to buy a gift for Valentine's Day

If you've spotted the perfect gift on the Internet, thanks in particular to the advice of influencers, beware! It may be sold on a dropshipping site.

Dropshipping is when an online seller presents a product, takes and collects the order and then pays the manufacturer, often based in Asia, to deliver the product directly to the buyer. While this practice is legal in Iceland, it often leads to unpleasant surprises. Delivery times can be very long, the product delivered might be of poor quality or even counterfeit and you may even have to pay customs fees to receive your order.

To avoid falling into the dropshipping trap, it is best to check the seriousness of the seller, read the general conditions and compare prices with other sites before ordering.

Be sure before buying a personalised gift online

Although in principle you always have 14 days to change your mind after a distance purchase, there are exceptions. These exceptions include the purchase of products that you have asked to be personalised or a leisure service on a specific date.

So think twice before ordering a bracelet engraved with your sweetheart’s first name or a phone case with a photo of your date or a concert ticket for your loved one’s favourite band. It will be impossible to return it to the seller and ask for a refund.