Fraud – this is how they do it!

In the first half of 2022, the Dutch Banking Association saw fraudsters adopt new methods at a faster rate than ever.

Although criminals keep changing their tactics, there are some patterns of manipulation they use repeatedly, such as adopting a friendly tone when they approach their victims. The Dutch banks have developed lessons to alert people to these patterns, making it easier to recognise and prevent fraud.

One tactic fraudsters use is to phone you or come to your door posing as bank employees. They warn you about ‘suspicious activity’ on a bank account and then propose that you transfer your money for safekeeping temporarily to a different, supposedly ‘secure’ account. Or they may ask you to install a program on your PC that allows them to monitor your activity remotely and even transfer money.

The banks have created a dedicated website offering videos, podcasts and lessons to help consumers recognise scams and tricks more easily and so protect themselves better against fraud: www.zowerktfraude.nl (in Dutch).