Germany warns of phishing tax refund and highway ‘Autobahn‑Gold’ scams

The German consumer protection agency has issued a warning about a new phishing scheme that pretends to be a tax refund notice from the Finanzamt. Emails with the subject “Your tax refund 2026 is ready for payout” mimic official ELSTER communications, use generic salutations and contain a link to a fraudulent site where victims are asked to enter personal data. Authorities advise recipients to ignore such messages, delete them, and verify any tax‑related communications only through the official portal.

Police have also alerted the public to a “Autobahn‑Gold” scam active on motorways and rest areas. Scammers approach drivers claiming an emergency such as an empty fuel tank or a broken credit card, offering seemingly valuable jewellery as collateral. The jewellery is usually cheap costume pieces, and the fraudsters may also steal personal belongings during a ride to a bank or service station. Drivers are urged not to exchange cash for unknown items, to refuse giving rides to strangers, and to contact police or roadside assistance if approached.

Both warnings aim to protect millions of German residents from financial loss and personal data theft.