Telephone scams, also known as vishing, are on the rise. Fraudsters use various scenarios to encourage citizens to act urgently and disclose sensitive information or make payments.
In recent weeks, several recurring techniques have been reported to Safeonweb.
Calls from foreign numbers
Many citizens receive calls from unknown numbers, often with a foreign area code.
These are usually automated messages or fake employees of well-known organisations who mention an urgent problem: suspicious activity, blocked account, etc.
The aim is to get the victim to call back the number or provide personal information.
Wangiri fraud: a very brief call
In some cases, the scammer simply lets the phone ring once.
Out of curiosity or concern, the victim calls the number back.
This is often a premium rate number, sometimes located abroad. Each call can incur significant charges.
Fake Card Stop calls
Safeonweb also receives reports of fake Card Stop calls.
An automated message indicates that a suspicious transaction has been detected and asks the victim to confirm their bank details or code.
Important reminder: Card Stop will never ask you for your codes or personal information over the phone.
Impersonating Argenta Bank
Fraudsters also pose as Argenta Bank employees.
They claim that an account has been hacked or that urgent action is needed and ask for confidential data.
Banks never ask for codes, passwords or sensitive information over the phone.
What should you do if you receive an unexpected phone call?
- Never give out personal details, passwords, bank card codes or digipass response codes over the phone.
- Never call back unknown numbers. Never answer calls from numbers you do not recognise, and be even more vigilant when it comes to foreign numbers. Never call these numbers back.
- Do not believe everything you are told on the phone. Your bank, the police or the government will never ask you for your codes over the phone.
- If in doubt, take the time to think and contact the organisation in question via its official channels.
- Never give access to your device by downloading a tool. https://safeonweb.be/en/scammers-take-control-my-device-remotely-remote-access-scam
Have you been scammed?
- If you have lost money or are being extorted, we recommend that you file a report with your local police straight away.
- Contact your bank and/or Card Stop on 078 170 170 (+32 78 170 170 from abroad) if you have passed on bank details, money is disappearing from your bank account or if you have transferred money to a scammer. In this way, any fraudulent transactions can be blocked.
