The FraudPhone helps to recognize signs of a phone scam and thereby reduces the chance of fraud. With the FraudPhone, two scenarios can be practiced: a conversation with a fake police officer and with a fake bank employee. Both scenarios highlight common characteristics of fraud, such as time pressure, threats, requests for information, payments, and building trust. This is the moment to raise awareness.

Several neighborhood residents have practiced with the FraudPhone and appreciate the extra awareness it creates. “Everyone knows someone who has been a victim. By practicing like this, I know much better what to do,” said one of the elderly who practiced a conversation.

The FraudPhone will be deployed at various locations in the coming period, where neighborhood officers will engage with residents to prevent them from becoming victims of phone scams.  

Phone scams and fake officers
Phone scams are excuses criminals use to try to defraud people. The scammers often appear trustworthy, but nothing could be further from the truth. They call, come to the door, or approach people on the street with a convincing story. These criminals deceive you by pretending to be, for example, a bank employee, police officer (the so-called fake officer), or home care worker. They then steal money and other valuable possessions. In some cases, this happens in combination with threats and/or violence.

Report suspicious situations immediately
Be extra alert and report suspicious situations immediately. Please also share the following prevention tips with your parents, grandparents, or others you know may be vulnerable to these criminals.

  • Is it a fake officer, or is it okay? Check via 112.
  • Doubts whether your bank called you? Call your bank yourself and check.
  • The police or your bank never call to ask for your PIN code or to find out if you have valuables at home.
  • The police or your bank do not come by to photograph valuable possessions or collect debit cards, cash, and valuables.
  • The police must always show a valid police identification card. You can ask for this if someone is at your door pretending to be police. The most important feature of the card is the hologram. When you move the card, you see alternating the police logo or the word ‘politie’.
  • Do you have a scammer on the phone? Do not give any information about PIN codes or valuables and then call 0900-8844.
  • Is someone at the door you don’t trust? Call 112 immediately. Then the police can catch the scammer in the act.
  • Lower your PIN limit from, for example, 1000 euros to 300 euros.
  • Always file a report.

Have you become a victim anyway? You are not the only one this happens to. Always file a report, even for attempts by fake officers or fake bank employees. Keep the phone numbers from which you were called and share these numbers with the police. The more information the police have, the faster these fake officers can be stopped.

Below you will find more information about phone scams and fake officers.