WhatsApp fraud and ÖGK phishing scams hit Germany, Austria

Investigators warned that criminals are hijacking WhatsApp accounts in Germany, using compromised profiles to message all saved contacts and request money via links, QR codes or PIN prompts. A 65‑year‑old victim in the Rostock district lost control of his account after attackers contacted his contacts and demanded payments, illustrating the growing use of social pressure in the scheme.

In Austria, fraudsters are sending phishing e‑mails that appear to come from the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK), written in local dialect to increase trust. Recipients are urged to “update their customer data” through a fake website that mimics the ÖGK portal, aiming to harvest personal and banking details. Both incidents reflect a broader rise in sophisticated phishing and AI‑assisted attacks across Europe.