Phishing scams target taxpayers and religious organizations

Authorities and local organizations in the Netherlands and Belgium are warning the public about various phishing and fraud schemes targeting individuals through email and telephone.

In the Netherlands, the St. Franciscus Parish has issued an alert regarding fraudulent emails sent in the name of the parish. These messages falsely request money for items such as electronic gift cards, often claiming the sender is too busy to handle the transaction personally. The parish also warned of potential phone scams where fraudsters attempt to obtain confidential or personal information by claiming they lack access to parish administration.

In Belgium, a phishing campaign is impersonating the FOD Financiën (Federal Public Service Finance). The fraudulent emails use the MyMinfin branding and claim that a tax refund of 1,361 euros has been approved for the 2025 fiscal year. To receive the funds, victims are prompted to click a link to ‘confirm bank details,’ a tactic designed to steal financial information.