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Both Autonord in Nuuk and Arctic Star in Sisimiut are grappling with a disturbing trend: someone has hijacked their Facebook profiles. “It’s frustrating and concerning for us, and it’s a real shame for customers who could end up losing their money,” lamented Minik Sachse from Arctic Star.
Arctic Star, a reputable business in Sisimiut, like Autonord, has found that fraudsters are mimicking their Facebook page, enticing potential customers into transferring money for goods via bank transfers.
“The fact that there are individuals willing to engage in this kind of deception is incredibly disappointing,” Sachse added. “We’ve built trust over the years, serving customers in both towns and cities. It’s disheartening to think they might unknowingly send money to these criminals.”
On March 6, the company became aware of a counterfeit Facebook profile resembling their own. This fake page was advertising UTVs, trailers, and a slew of other items at suspiciously low prices.
Fake Profile Causes Confusion
This imitation page boasted an impressive 7,000 followers, dwarfed only by Arctic Star’s 3,800 loyal fans. “Customers began reaching out to us, asking about these cheap UTVs and trailers they believed were listed on our page. It left us utterly confused because we weren’t selling any such items,” Sachse recounted.
The fraudulent profile had not only copied the original’s visual identity but also inflated its follower count with purchased accounts. When customers inquired about products, the scammers would shift the conversation to Messenger, where they’d pressure them into sending money through bank transfers.
“The fake profile is misleading in so many ways,” Sachse emphasized. “Unlike our authentic page, which features clear contact information, they present themselves as an NGO, and their follower accounts are private.”
A Call for Caution
Sachse moved swiftly to report the impostor profile to META, Facebook’s parent company, and contacted the banks associated with the fraudulent accounts provided to customers. “We’ve urged our customers to report this to the police as well. Unfortunately, there’s little more we can do. We don’t even know who is behind it,” he expressed, clearly frustrated by the situation.
Many individuals in Greenland, particularly in rural areas, tend to rely on bank transfers for transactions and may not recognize these scams. “They see a good offer and take the leap without realizing it’s a fraud,” Sachse cautioned. “It’s vital to draw attention to these fake profiles. Customers should be wary if an offer seems too good to be true. We always communicate through phone or email and never request money transfers via Messenger.”
Another Instance at Autonord
Earlier this year, Autonord in Nuuk similarly dealt with a fraudulent Facebook profile that advertised numerous attractive offers using images taken from other car dealerships. Director Bo Eder-Jensen reacted like Sachse, working to alert customers about the scam and advising them to report the fake profile to META and the police if they had been scammed.
As the police consistently stress, reporting attempted fraud is crucial.