Romance and lottery wins: Internet fraud has many faces

Online fraudsters invent the most captivating and convincing stories to make money. — dpa

At first glance, the email really looks as if it's from a friend who needs help. He says he's in a hospital abroad and drowning in expenses. You can help him out with a credit card payment, all you need do is click on a link in the email.

But if you do put in your credit card details, then you, like countless others, have fallen for the scam. Your friend is probably sunning himself on a beach somewhere and doesn't know his account has been hacked.