Online scams are on the rise in Belgium. Fake messages, fraudulent calls, scams on social media, and misleading investments: cybercriminals are becoming increasingly ingenious, particularly thanks to artificial intelligence.
To tackle this threat, the Federal Police is launching the #SCAM awareness campaign, a national initiative supported by Safeonweb.
Figures that confirm the urgency
Cybercrime continues to rise. In 2024, 64,995 incidents were recorded, compared to 62,762 in 2023. Over ten years, the increase has reached 281%.
Fraud and attempted fraud via the Internet increased by 220%, from 12,776 incidents in 2015 to 40,928 in 2024 (source: National General Database).
These figures highlight a reality: anyone can fall victim to a scam, regardless of their age.
The aim of the #SCAM campaign
The #SCAM campaign aims to inform and raise awareness among citizens, helping them to spot the warning signs and adopt safer online behaviour. It also encourages victims or witnesses of scams to report the incidents and file a complaint.
The campaign will run from 10 February to 30 June 2026 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Every Tuesday, a prevention article will be published on the Federal Police website.
What will you find in the #SCAM campaign?
The campaign content answers three key questions:
- What does the scam involve?
- How can you avoid the trap?
- What should you do if you are a victim?
The information is based on the expertise of specialists from the Federal Judicial Police's cybercrime units.
#SCAM and Safeonweb: the same goal of prevention
The name #SCAM refers to the English word for ‘scam’ and the acronym ‘Stay Connected. Act Mindfully.’: ‘Stay connected, but act with discernment’.
Safeonweb fully supports this initiative by the Federal Police.
More info: https://www.police.be/5998/fr/a-propos/campagnes-de-communication/campagne-scam
