German consumer agencies warn of rising phishing, rental and phone scams

Consumer protection authorities in Germany have issued warnings about a surge in fraud schemes targeting private individuals. Fake emails pretending to be the public broadcasting fee service promise discounts or demand immediate transfers, urging recipients not to reply or pay. Rental frauds continue to trap seekers of housing in major cities, with scammers demanding deposits via advance payment and then disappearing; victims are advised to freeze accounts, keep all communications and report to the police. Phone “shock‑call” scams, often aimed at seniors, involve callers posing as relatives, police or doctors and pressuring victims to hand over cash or valuables. In Austria, criminals have revived a phishing campaign using the discontinued “climate bonus” as a lure, collecting personal data and banking credentials through counterfeit portals. Authorities recommend verifying contact details, avoiding unsolicited payment requests, using official channels, blocking suspicious numbers and reporting incidents to law enforcement.