Phone scams: Fake bank employees on the phone

Criminals are quick to exploit opportunities – for example, when the media reports a data breach at a company. The resulting uncertainty as to who might be affected is immediately used to launch fraudulent attacks. For example, you might get a call from criminals pretending to be from a bank or employees of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). The scammers’ aim is to get you to reveal your personal data – either by gaining your trust or by putting you under pressure.

“Your account has been frozen for security reasons.” This is a classic way to start the scam. Under the pretext of needing to restore your online banking services or secure your account, the caller will ask you to ‘verify’ your account details or other personal information. In other cases, criminals will try and get you to download remote support software. Then they have access to your computer and can initiate payments. How to protect yourself:

Do not trust the telephone number shown on your display!

Your phone will display what appears to be the telephone number of a bank. However, the number displayed may have been manipulated. So, don’t be fooled by the number shown. Ask the caller for their name and tell them you’ll call them back, then hang up the phone.

You should then call your bank directly!

If you receive a phone call and the caller claims to be from your bank, hang up. Instead, look up the number on your bank’s official website. Do not call the number given to you over the phone or shown on your display, as you may end up talking to the scammers again.

Do not let third parties access your smartphone or computer

As soon as the caller wants to ‘go through the process of unfreezing your account with you’ and offers you external support, this should set the alarm bells ringing! It is highly likely they will want to use remote support software to access your smartphone or computer. This could then result in your device being compromised.

Never click on links!

This kind of phone scam is particularly effective if you also get an e-mail containing a link purporting to be from your bank a few days before the call (phishing). If someone then calls you claiming to be from your bank, this combination of e-mail and phone call often creates the impression of legitimacy. You are then more likely to trust the caller.

At some point in the conversation, the scammer will then ask you to click the link in the e-mail. For example, they might say, “of course you can always go and visit your local branch, but if you prefer, I can fix the problem for you now”. And remember: Never click on links or download any programs, even if the caller appears to be friendly and trustworthy.

Don’t be pressured into doing anything! Hang up the phone!

It doesn’t matter what the caller tells you, it’s important you remain calm and collected and don’t let yourself be pressured into doing anything. The scammers will probably try all the tricks in the book. For example, they could claim that your account will be frozen or you’ll have to pay a hefty fine. Don’t let them intimidate you! And “helping to fight crime” is not a good reason to take action either. Just hang up.

Don’t reveal any personal data

Be particularly careful with your personal data and don’t give too much away. This includes account details, card numbers, PINs and TANs, but also your address, telephone number and date of birth. Before you pass on any of this information, consider whether it is really required for the task you want to perform. In the case of phone scams, it is often the case that the scammers already have some information, which they are now trying to verify. Don’t be misled into making a mistake!

Check your account statements regularly!Check your account statements regularly!

Regularly check your account or your bank statements for unauthorised withdrawals. If you notice any discrepancies or unusual account transactions, please contact your bank directly.