Germany's consumer protection agency warns of phishing impersonation

The Verbraucherzentrale Baden‑Württemberg (VZBW) has alerted the public to a fraud scheme in which scammers pose as consumer‑protection officials. Victims receive phone calls offering assistance and are directed to a counterfeit website that mimics the agency’s design and logos. The site asks for personal information such as name, phone number, email and bank details, which are then harvested by the fraudsters.

The agency advises anyone receiving unsolicited calls to hang up, avoid following links to unknown sites, and never provide personal data online. If personal information has already been shared, consumers should monitor bank accounts for unauthorized transactions, notify their bank, and change any compromised passwords. The VZBW also provides a list of known fraudulent tactics, including fake data‑matching offers, prize competitions and false data‑deletion services.