The Federal Police warned people living in Belgium to be aware of a new form of fraud that involves perpetrators pretending to be bank employees and visit the victims at home to "help them."
This new scam, which is once again mainly targetting older people, has resulted in several people's bank accounts were subsequently plundered, according to a statement by the police.
"It starts with a phone call from the bank, saying that a fraudulent transaction has taken place on your account and that someone will come immediately to solve the problem," the statement read.
"This is how a fraudster, posing as a bank employee and speaking Dutch, tries to gain the trust of potential victims, most of whom are over 80 years old."
Modus operandi of perpetrators
Once the victim has let the people into their homes, their bank card is requested and some actions are carried out, presumably with a card reader and via online banking.
Whilst doing this, the perpatrators also ask for the victim's secret code, which a real bank employee would never do. The first person calling from the supposed bank then calls back to say the card is blocked and the account is safe, meaning further fraud is not possible. They add that a new card will be sent to their address.
The perpetrator then takes the "old card," which has resulted in various cash withdrawals, online purchases and also transfers to bank accounts abroad being made. "Money is often also transferred from the savings accounts to current accounts, so that this money can also be stolen," the police said.
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While the gang of thieves has mainly been active in the Waregem area in West Flanders, they are likely to have struck in other places too, or may do so in the future.
The police has warned people never to give their personal code or bank card to someone they do not know well and to contact the police immediately if a person asks them to do this via the the emergency number 101.
People who have been victims of this type of fraud are asked to report it to their local police.
