Monitor this situation.

Unsubscribe anytime.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

16 clusters · 60 sources · 48 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Rising phishing, vishing, and impersonation fraud in Europe

Overview

By late August 2026, fraud tactics across Europe have diversified into high-pressure physical sales and sophisticated digital impersonation. In Germany, a McAfee study revealed that 72 percent of citizens have experienced online fraud, with 12 percent specifically encountering cryptocurrency investment scams. Younger demographics are noted as particularly vulnerable, with less than half of Generation Z able to identify unrealistic returns as deceptive. Additionally, German authorities have warned of ‘419 scams’ involving advance fees for promised inheritances or business opportunities, and door-to-door salespeople using high-pressure tactics to sell fiber optic connections under false pretenses. In Switzerland and France, ‘vishing’ (voice phishing) remains a critical threat. Scammers in Switzerland impersonate police, bank employees, or government officials to create a sense of urgency. In France, recent large-scale data breaches at the DGFiP and FICOBA have enabled fraudsters to use highly personalized tax and identity data to gain trust. French consumer reports also highlight massive losses from travel scams, including a fake booking platform that cost victims 1.5 million euros and a motorhome scam totaling 3 million euros. By mid-September 2026, impersonation tactics have expanded to target official branding and specific services. In the Netherlands, a new vishing tactic involves impersonating the retailer Coolblue through pre-recorded messages. In France, fraudsters are using phishing and smishing to target ‘Mon Compte Formation’ (CPF) users and e-commerce shoppers via fake customs notifications. By late September 2026, French authorities have identified a rise in ‘manipulation fraud,’ which accounts for over 40 percent of diverted funds according to the Banque de France’s OSMP. This includes the use of ‘spoofing’ to display legitimate bank or tax office numbers on caller IDs. In the Calais region, authorities have warned of scammers posing as bank advisors to convince victims to hand over credit cards or valuables to fake couriers at their homes.

Entities

ELSTER · ARCEP · DGFiP · Staatsanwaltschaft · Politie Hoeksche Waard

Timeline

3 days ago

[CRIME] 5 sources
France faces rise in sophisticated phishing and payment fraud
Fraudsters in France are using sophisticated methods, including AI-generated content, voice spoofing, and intercepted invoices, to conduct phishing and payment scams following major data breaches.
8 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Cybercrime targeting CPF accounts and e-commerce shoppers
Fraudsters are using sophisticated phishing and smishing scams in France, targeting CPF training accounts and e-commerce shoppers with fake customs fees or urgent expiration warnings.
9 days ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Digital fraud alerts: Vishing scams and community security initiatives
Authorities are warning against new vishing scams impersonating Coolblue, while local initiatives in Hoeksche Waard aim to educate the public on recognizing digital fraud and phishing.
11 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Identity theft scams target authorities in Senegal and France
Authorities in Senegal and France have issued warnings against phishing scams and identity theft targeting citizens and businesses through fraudulent websites and emails.
25 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Consumer fraud schemes and prevention efforts reported in France
France is seeing a rise in diverse consumer scams, ranging from AI-driven phishing and bank impersonation to large-scale travel and motorhome fraud totaling millions of euros in losses.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Online fraud cases rise in Nördlingen and Donauwörth regions
Police in Germany report a rise in online fraud, with victims losing money to scams involving classified ads, fake hotel bookings, and phishing links.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Belgium authorities warn of rising phishing and impersonation scams
Belgian authorities warn of rising phishing emails and phone scams where criminals impersonate police officers to steal personal data and valuables.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 6 sources
Authorities warn of rising telephone and vishing scams
Police in Switzerland and France warn of rising 'vishing' scams where fraudsters use stolen data and caller ID spoofing to impersonate authorities and banks to steal money.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Deceptive doorstep sales and impersonation scams on the rise
Fraudsters are using high-pressure tactics in Germany and Switzerland, ranging from deceptive fiber optic doorstep sales to phone scams where criminals impersonate police and government officials.
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
Germany faces rising online fraud and crypto scams
A McAfee study shows 72% of Germans have faced online fraud, with crypto scams and advance fee fraud targeting many, particularly younger generations.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Fraudulent schemes reported in Germany and Austria
Fraud cases in Germany and Austria involve a €17,000 car purchase via a manipulated email IBAN and an attempted real estate scam in Styria.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 10 sources
Consumer agencies warn of rising phishing and payment scams
Authorities in Germany and Liechtenstein are warning of various scams, including tax refund phishing, fake PayPal alerts, fraudulent debt collection letters, and QR code manipulation on parking meters.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Germany tax refund phishing scam targets citizens
A phishing scam impersonating the German Federal Central Tax Office is using fake 263-euro tax refund claims to steal personal data via fraudulent email links.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 8 sources
German users warned of new PayPal and WhatsApp fraud schemes
German authorities alert users to PayPal phishing emails promising refunds and a WhatsApp account‑takeover scam that uses fake QR‑code verification to steal money.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 7 sources
WhatsApp fraud and ÖGK phishing scams hit Germany, Austria
WhatsApp accounts are being hijacked in Germany to solicit money, while Austrian ÖGK phishing emails in dialect lure victims to fake sites, showing a surge in sophisticated European scams.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
German fraud alerts expose card‑loss loophole and massive phishing attacks on Microsoft users
German agencies warn that blocked cards can still be used for SEPA direct debits and highlight a multinational phishing wave targeting Microsoft users, especially seniors.

Sources

1001web.fr · 5min.at · actu.fr · aktuelno.me · alin-vzw.be · amp.krone.at · androidnews.de · augsburger-allgemeine.de · bbox-mag.fr · berlin-live.de · bocainademinas.mg.gov.br · borncity.com · chip.de · cpformation.com · derwesten.de · deutschlandsuchtdensuperstar.de · dordognelibre.fr · efratgosh.co.il · finnlandcool.fi · futurezone.de · handelsverband-nrw.de · hellwegeranzeiger.de · hoekschnieuws.nl · iphoned.nl · it-boltwise.de · it-daily.net · lavenirdelartois.fr · lejournaldugers.fr · mobiflip.de · moneyvox.fr · n1info.hr · nextpit.com.br · nieuws365.be · nr-kurier.de · numerama.com · ohaktuell.de · planet.fr · polizei.news · polizeinews.ch · portalanalitika.me · presse-citron.net · radiograz.at · rechtslupe.de · reconvilier.ch · redactie24.be · rtv.be · sciencepost.fr · sentv.info

This summary has been updated 20 times: see revision history