Belgium’s Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and the Centre for Cybersecurity are warning against fraudsters posing as Filip, king of Belgians, his chief of staff or as the head of Begium's military intelligence service, the ADIV. Potential victims are invited to a video call with the king, Belgium's head of state. Prosecutors suspect that the images may have been created using AI. A criminal investigation has been launched.
Since the beginning of last year, foreign dignitaries, Belgian business leaders and their families have been contacted via WhatsApp, email or telephone by people posing as King Filip, his chief of staff Vincent Houssiau or Major General Stéphane Dutron, the head of the military intelligence service ADIV.
‘Conmen use techniques that can make people believe that the contact actually originates from the royal palace or the King Boudewijn Foundation,’ the federal public prosecutor's office, which has opened a criminal investigation, says.
According to the public prosecutor's office, victims are deliberately selected on the basis of their possible connections with the royal family.
In an initial phishing wave, financial support was requested for the so-called liberation of Belgian journalists who were allegedly being held hostage in Syria. In one case, money was actually transferred.
Invite to fictitious dinner
Since the beginning of January, the public prosecutor's office has seen a second wave of attempts at fraud, mainly targeting business leaders. This time victims are invited to a video call to convince them that it is indeed the king. The images may have been created using AI.
Some victims have also received a fake invitation to a fictitious gala dinner organised by the King Boudewijn Foundation in February and April. The criminals also request a contribution or sponsorship for this event.
It is not yet clear who is behind the fraud.
The public prosecutor's office emphasises that you can always report suspicious emails to Safeonweb.be.