Netherlands and Belgium police warn of fake officer scams

In the Dutch town of Delfzijl, authorities have installed digital warning boards on several access roads. The signs, placed at the police’s request, alert residents to the “nepagenten” scam in which fraudsters pose as police officers, claim a victim’s address appears on a criminal list, and demand valuables or bank details. The police stress that officers never collect personal items, request PIN codes, or enter homes without a warrant, and advise citizens to hang up, verify calls using official numbers (0900‑8844 in the Netherlands, 112 in emergencies), and never hand over cash, jewelry or cards.

Police in Belgium have issued a similar public warning, describing how scammers call, claim a recent break‑in, and try to gain entry or personal information. They urge the public to remain calm, end the call, and contact local police via the official regional number (014/33 37 00) to confirm legitimacy. Both campaigns emphasize reporting suspicious calls to help prevent further victims.

The combined warnings aim to curb a growing fraud technique that targets especially elderly residents, using phone‑number spoofing and fake identification to create urgency and gain trust.