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The FSMA warns of attempted fraud with bank accounts and credit cards

Press release

The Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) has recently received an increased number of complaints concerning attempted fraud with bank accounts and credit cards. Fraudsters are obtaining personal information with which they can withdraw money from the accounts of consumers. This practice is often called 'phishing'.

The FSMA advises the public to be very cautious, and never to give personal codes to others.

What is phishing?

Phishing essentially means attempting to obtain consumers' personal information through false
e-mails or false websites. This information can include bank account and credit card numbers, passwords, access codes and PIN numbers etc. Consumers may also be contacted by telephone by individuals falsely claiming to be from their bank and asking them for personal information.

If scamsters obtain these details, they can impersonate their victim and withdraw money from their victim's account.

In the last few months, the FSMA has received increasing numbers of reports of phishing, and the banking sector and legal authorities have noted the same.

How to prevent phishing

Here are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to phishing:

  • Protect your computer.
  • Never give your PIN number or access codes for internet banking to others, even if someone has contacted you by telephone claiming to be an employee you don't know from your bank.
  • Do not confirm payments via the internet that you have not prepared yourself or that you have received unexpectedly.
  • If you get the feeling that something has gone wrong whilst you are making a payment with a debit card, with a credit card, or on your PC, cancel it. If in any doubt, stop the payment.

You can find further useful information on phishing, how to recognize a phishing message, and what you need to check, on the website of Febelfin, the Belgian Financial Sector Federation (www.febelfin.be), under 'Safe Internet Banking'.

Where to report phishing

  • You can report phishing or attempts at phishing to your bank. All banks have a point of contact to which you can address any questions about internet banking.
  • You can report suspicious e-mails to "e-cops", the Belgian governmental contact point for internet abuse (www.ecops.be).
  • If you have further questions about phishing, you can also contact the FSMA's department for Relations with Consumers of Financial Services (tel.: +32 2 220 59 10; email address: peri@fsma.be).