Scams via email, WhatsApp and text message are becoming increasingly common. Criminals lure you into making a false payment with an email or text message, for example. And ask you to enter your bank details, for example. Read here what you can do to prevent being scammed.
Internet scams can happen in many different ways. For example, someone pretends via WhatsApp to be a friend or family member who wants to borrow money from you. But there are also other ways. These forms of scams are becoming increasingly common:
Sending an excessive (fake) bill to you via WhatsApp or email
A link to a package delivery company when you have not ordered anything
Sending fake payment requests via WhatsApp or websites such as Marktplaats
Blackmail via email for watching porn
Threatening to block the internet or phone
Here is what you can do to prevent internet scams
Do not respond to emails, text messages or WhatsApp messages from people you do not know. Not even if that individual pretends to be an employee of a bank, friend or family member
Do not click on links of payment requests or packages you did not order
Never engage in blackmail
If in doubt, get in contact personally using the official, real phone number of your bank, friend, family or phone provider. Or get help from someone and have them check your messages with you.
If you have been scammed over the internet, take the following steps.
Contact your bank as soon as possible. Sometimes the bank can get your money back. Or they can prevent the scammers from taking more money from your account.
File a police report
Report the scam to the Fraud Helpdesk. This can only be done in Dutch
