Significant rise in phishing attempts

The number of fake messages from banks trying to extract your codes or identifiers from you rose by 60% during the first quarter of 2018 in Belgium. As a result, 1 361 victims have already lost more than 1.95 million euros this year by being caught in the phishing trap.

The Belgian banking federation, Febelfin, has now sounded the alarm: fraudsters are using new methods to get what they want. It’s no longer just e-mails, but fake text messages and other instant messages on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. The scam can even come from a fake buyer on a second-hand goods site.

So, never pass on your bank identifiers to anyone by e-mail, telephone or on social media. And certainly never send your bankcard through the post!

What do I do if I receive a suspicious message?

If you think you have received a phishing e-mail, send it to your bank without delay via phishing@yourbank’sdomainname (e.g. phishing@ing.be) as well as to suspect@safeonweb.be, which is the contact point for the Cybersecurity Centre Belgium (CCB).

If you have been the victim of fraud by online banking, contact your bank and Card Stop as quickly as possible (by calling 070 344 344) so that your card and/or account can be blocked.