Febelfin, the financial services federation, and Antwerp public prosecutors have issued a joint warning against so-called ‘card collectors’. These are criminals who pose as bank employees and visit people in their homes in a bid to get their hands on bank cards and PIN codes! In East Flanders five victims have been duped in this way, losing nearly 40,000 euros.
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Banks warn: 'Scammers posing as bank employees target your bank card'
Colin Clapson
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Crooks pose as bank employees and call you saying you need a new bank card. They claim your existing card needs to be replaced due to a problem or because it has expired. They then come and collect the card from victim's home. Sometimes the con starts with a phishing text.
"Armed with your bank card and PIN, the crooks have everything they need to withdraw large sums of money," says Febelfin's Isabelle Marchand. Febelfin warns that the scammers also try to persuade victims to hand over other valuables including cash and jewellery.
Young perps, older victims
"We see that it is mainly older people that are targeted by this new form of fraud," Marchand continues. "As for the perpetrators, we see the opposite: many scammers are young people aged between 15 and 25."
40,000 euros scammed in East Flanders
In East Flanders Province, 36,687 euros was stolen from five victims. Federal judicial police detained a gang of fraudsters posing as fake bank employees. The gang mainly targeted elderly people. Four Dutch minor were caught as well as one adult from Genk (Limburg).
"They usually called elderly people," confirms Patrick Willocx of the judicial police, "and pretend to be bank employees. They claimed their visit was needed to block the victim’s bank card."
"Then they steal cash from the bank account. They even dare to ask for jewellery or other valuables suggesting it would be safer in a safe," Willocx says.
Peak in summer months
The Antwerp public prosecutor's office fears a peak in scams during the summer months and already sees an increase in the number of offences.
"During the summer months, the often young perpetrators have more time to commit such acts," says cyber expert Peter Peereboom of the Antwerp public prosecutor's office.
"Experience tells us that we can expect a spike in the number of cards being picked up by criminals in the coming period. This is why, at the start of the summer holidays, we want once again to call on everyone to be extra vigilant and warn others about this scam".