AMSTERDAM - Online fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal money from unsuspecting victims, leading to a sharp rise in financial losses, according to the national fraud hotline Fraudehelpdesk.
The hotline reported that the total amount lost to fraud schemes in the Netherlands rose by 20 percent last year, reaching 53 million euros. The number of reported fraud attempts also increased by 10 percent, with 63,469 incidents recorded in 2024. Of those, 9,146 cases resulted in victims losing money.
Fraudehelpdesk warned that cybercriminals are exploiting publicly available personal data to make their scams appear more convincing. By addressing potential victims by name, scammers increase the likelihood of gaining their trust. In response, Dutch banks have emphasized that official emails and letters from financial institutions will always address customers personally.
Hackers are also employing spoofing techniques, making fraudulent emails and phone calls appear as if they originate from legitimate sources. Victims are often contacted by individuals claiming to be from their bank, warning them of a supposed security breach. Scammers then convince victims to disclose PIN numbers or transfer funds to so-called “safe” accounts—accounts that are actually controlled by criminals.
In some cases, fraudsters take their schemes further by arranging in-person visits to collect cash or valuables from victims under the pretense of protecting their assets from hackers.
Authorities have also warned of fraudulent helplines posing as official agencies. Last year, Fraudehelpdesk issued a public warning about a website, hulpbijfraude.eu, which falsely claimed to work with the hotline and displayed its contact details. The scam site misled victims into believing they were seeking legitimate assistance while actually exposing them to further fraud risks.
Police, tax authorities, and Fraudehelpdesk itself have been frequently impersonated by criminals. In these cases, victims receive emails or phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be law enforcement or tax officials, pressuring them into making payments or providing sensitive information.
The hotline advises the public to remain cautious and take steps to protect themselves from fraud. It urges people never to share PIN numbers or online banking login details and to avoid transferring funds into so-called “safe” accounts following an unexpected phone call.
If contacted by someone claiming to be from a bank or government agency, individuals should hang up and call back using an official, publicly listed phone number.
