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Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries and EU

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-07 19:32 UTC → 2026-10-07 23:31 UTC · added removed

Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries and EU

Fraudulent activities in the Netherlands and Belgium have seen a significant rise, characterized by both digital and interpersonal tactics. In the Netherlands, the Fraudehelpdesk reported a fivefold increase in phishing incidents during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with reported damages rising from approximately 26.9 million euros to 49.7 million euros. Parallel to the rise in digital phishing, authorities have issued warnings regarding impersonation fraud targeting elderly citizens. Scammers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland have been using telephone calls to impersonate police officers, bank employees, or relatives. In Poland, seniors in Częstochowa and Wałbrzych have lost between 50,000 and 100,000 PLN to callers posing as relatives or officials. In the Netherlands, a 24-year-old man was sentenced for defrauding an 82-year-old woman of 40,000 euros by posing as a police officer. Recent developments show these tactics are becoming increasingly physical and deceptive. In the Krimpenerwaard region of the Netherlands, criminals have used various personas to steal valuables. In Schoonhoven, a scammer posing as a construction worker convinced an elderly woman to hand over gold jewelry and heirlooms. In Bergambacht, individuals posing as police officers convinced residents to surrender jewelry and thousands of euros in cash under the pretext of ‘securing’ the items due to local burglaries. In Belgium’s Limburg region, criminals have also utilized helpdesk fraud, posing as Card Stop or bank representatives to gain entry into victims' homes. In response to these threats, Dutch authorities and organizations are hosting awareness sessions for seniors. In Badhoevedorp, a meeting involving the police, Rabobank, NHVeilig, Poland, police in Konin and the municipality of Haarlemmermeer addressed phishing and bank helpdesk scams. Similarly, in Burgum, an initiative by surrounding Wielkopolska county have issued warnings regarding a seniors' association surge in fraudulent phone calls. These include the ‘grandchild’ scam and local police addressed the rise of digital scams, noting that incidents ‘road accident’ scam, where perpetrators use dramatic stories involving fake agents reached 13,000 in 2025. accidents or arrests to pressure victims into transferring money for bail, legal fees, or medical costs.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-07 23:31 UTC Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries and EU
  2. 2026-10-07 19:32 UTC Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries
  3. 2026-10-03 10:39 UTC Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries
  4. 2026-09-22 10:34 UTC Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries
  5. 2026-09-21 19:31 UTC Rising fraud and impersonation in the Low Countries

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