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Phishing and fraud attacks in Germany and Austria

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-05 12:13 UTC → 2026-08-05 15:08 UTC · added removed

On 2 August 2026 German consumer‑protection agencies warned that blocking a lost Girocard does not stop thieves from using SEPA direct‑debit transactions that require only a signature. The newly launched KUNO service – a joint retailer‑police database – lets cardholders register lost cards so participating merchants can reject such payments, while cash withdrawals and PIN‑based purchases remain blockable. Police in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada also reported a wave of phishing attempts against Microsoft users, estimating about seven million fraudulent contacts. Scams have focused on seniors, using fake gift‑card offers, bogus investment schemes and counterfeit authority calls, with notable losses in both Europe and North America. The following days saw the fraud tactics diversify. In Germany, criminals hijacked WhatsApp accounts, broadcasting money‑request messages to all saved contacts and exploiting social pressure; a 65‑year‑old in Rostock lost control of his account. In Austria, phishing e‑mails impersonating the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) used local dialect to lure victims into a fake portal. A broader consumer‑fraud campaign targeted bank customers with fake shop sites, forged emails, SMS impersonating Apple support and a TikTok‑based identity‑theft scheme, prompting a free web‑seminar on 19 August to educate the public. By early August, police across Germany and Austria continued to issue warnings about a surge in scams aimed at seniors. Reports included a TikTok‑driven salary‑redirection fraud, a “grandchild‑trick” in Karlsruhe that coaxed an 88‑year‑old into handing over valuables, and telephone‑impersonation fraud in Oberwart, Austria. Authorities urged the public to verify any service or bank representative before providing money or personal data.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-05 15:08 UTC Phishing and fraud attacks in Germany and Austria
  2. 2026-08-05 12:13 UTC Phishing and fraud attacks in Germany and Austria
  3. 2026-08-04 13:06 UTC Phishing and fraud attacks in Germany and Austria

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