Prosecutors seek prison time for Dutch bank fraud group

Four men, aged between 22 and 26, appeared in a Roermond court following allegations of a sophisticated banking scam that targeted approximately 30 victims across the Netherlands, primarily in Limburg. The suspects allegedly used caller ID spoofing to make their phone numbers appear as legitimate bank contacts and used the names of real bank employees to gain trust.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the group targeted vulnerable individuals, including elderly citizens, with some victims being kept on the phone for up to four hours. Police reportedly found an Excel file containing personal data sorted by age, with the oldest victim being 88 years old. While reports on the total amount stolen vary, some sources suggest losses exceeded €300,000, while the prosecution specifically noted over €76,000 taken from elderly victims.

The prosecution is seeking prison sentences of four to four and a half years for three of the men, while requesting a community service order and a conditional sentence for the fourth individual, who allegedly played a smaller role. A court ruling is expected on December 18.