Have you received a text message or a message via a messaging app (such as WhatsApp) from an unknown sender requesting personal details or security codes? Be careful, this may be a phishing attempt.

Scammers use messages to try to obtain personal information (e.g. your username, password, bank details, etc.) for fraudulent purposes.

Have you been getting unsolicited premium-rate text messages? You can ask your telecom provider to block them.

Do not click on links in text messages from unknown senders.

A bank will never ask for your login codes or PIN via e-mail, text, or phone, nor will it ask you to use a link to a website to enter these codes. Such messages are always fraudulent.

On the website of the FPS Economy, you can find an overview of the different types of scams, with advice on how to distinguish genuine offers from fraudulent ones, as well as the best ways to respond.

Have you fallen victim to a scam and lost money or shared your bank details with scammers?

1. If you have shared your credit or bank card details, notify Card Stop immediately at 078 170 170 (+32 78 170 170 from abroad) to block your cards.
2. Contact your bank immediately so that the payment(s) and possibly the bank account can be blocked.
3. If money has actually been stolen from your account, report the incident to the local police.
4. Forward the suspicious message (e-mail or SMS) to suspect@safeonweb.be to block the URL of the suspicious website to spare other victims.
5. If you paid by credit card, fill in a dispute form on macarte.be to report an unauthorised payment transaction via your credit card.
6. Report the incident to us.

If money has been taken from your account without your consent, you may request a refund from your bank in cases of phishing. This refund is subject to certain conditions.