Fraudulent Platform Scheme

Overview

A Fraudulent Platform Scheme is one that relies on custom built software, usually a website or app, that helps conduct the deception.

Examples include fraudulent trading platforms, fraudulent clickworking platforms, fake shops, phishing websites, and the like.

Scams that use a Fraudulent Platform Scheme are also sometimes found to be engaging in Data Loss Or Theft, as in the case of phishing-type scams, but data loss is not always the primary object of the deception.

Fraudulent platforms are used by the scammer to achieve a few things:

• (a) Increased legitimacy for an invented scam ("it must be legit, there's a functional app!")

• (b) Increased legitimacy for a spoofing scam ("it must be legit, it looks just like the brand I'm expecting!")

• (c) Assist with stealing user-entered data

• (d) Assist in the lie - make the vicim of an investment scam think that their investment is growing, for example

• (e) Can be lower risk for the scammer than using a 3rd party app (e.g. social media site) where they might get caught