German fraud alerts expose card‑loss loophole and massive phishing attacks on Microsoft users

German consumer‑protection agencies warn that simply blocking a lost Girocard does not stop thieves from using SEPA direct‑debit transactions. The nationwide blocking service (116 116) can halt cash withdrawals and PIN‑based purchases, but recurring payments that require only a signature remain possible. To close this gap, the KUNO service – a joint database of retailers and police – allows cardholders to register lost cards so that participating merchants reject such transactions.

At the same time, police in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada have issued alerts about a wave of phishing attacks that have generated roughly seven million attempts against Microsoft users. Scammers target seniors with fake gift‑card offers, bogus investment schemes and counterfeit authority calls. Notable cases include an 83‑year‑old in Ludwigshafen who lost €19,000 and a 73‑year‑old in Michigan who lost $42,000. Authorities stress that legitimate banks never ask for PINs or payments to “security accounts,” urging the public to remain vigilant.