Police warn of phone scams posing as officers or bank staff

Police in Belgium and the Netherlands have issued alerts about telephone fraud in which callers claim to be police officers or bank employees. The scammers often target older residents, calling in the evening and using fabricated stories such as recent arrests or compromised bank accounts to persuade victims to reveal PIN codes, bank details, or to hand over valuables for "secure storage".

Authorities stress that police will never request a PIN, bank card, or personal information over the phone, and banks will not ask for such details via a call. Victims are advised to hang up, verify identities by calling official numbers, report the incident, and inform vulnerable family members or neighbours about the tactics.