May 30, 2023, 9:51 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Scammers repeatedly attempt to defraud people through calls or messages. They aim to steal data or persuade individuals to make transfers. They often impersonate others–even representatives of the European law enforcement agency Europol.
The phone rings, and a supposed employee of the European law enforcement agency Europol is on the line. Or you receive an official-looking email from the agency. In such cases, it’s crucial to exercise caution. Instead of the police, scammers are behind these messages, targeting personal data and money. The so-called “Europol scam” now exists in several variations, all of which use the official nature to pressure the victims.
Overview
What’s Behind the Europol Phone Scam
The scammers posing as Europol employees inform you over the phone about an alleged identity theft. They warn that your data has been stolen and is being used for criminal activities. During the conversation, the scammers ask for your data to verify it. They also try to persuade you to transfer various amounts of money.
A TECHBOOK editor was also called by a supposed Europol employee and informed about identity theft. The person on the other end spoke English with a strong accent. The number had tried to reach her multiple times throughout the day. In this case, the scam was easy to identify because it was a mobile number: +49 176 23816914.
However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, scammers use a technical method to display Europol’s actual phone number on your caller ID, making them appear convincingly real. This makes phone scams particularly dangerous and further intimidates the recipients.
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Fake Emails in the Name of Europol
Various authorities repeatedly warn about fraudulent emails, known as phishing messages. These appear to come from Europol and stand out with attention-grabbing subject lines like “Judicial Summons,” “Court Summons,” or similar. The recipient is urged to respond to the allegations in the message as quickly as possible. These range from “exhibitionism” to “child pornography.”
TECHBOOK has also received a recent message with similar content, allegedly from the “Minor Protection Brigade.” If the recipient does not respond within the deadline, a warrant is threatened. Additional pressure is applied: “Your file will also be distributed to the media, where your family, friends, and all of Germany can see what you do on your computer.”
Do not be unsettled by such messages. At first glance, the supposed email from Europol may look legitimate. It includes appropriate emblems and even the correct address of the Federal Police Directorate. The message we received even mentioned a real person, Julia Flockermann, a presiding judge at the Berlin Regional Court. However, upon closer inspection, numerous grammatical errors are evident in the text. Additionally, the logos and names of the authorities are–sometimes randomly–mixed together. This fact, along with the dubious sender of the supposed Europol email, clearly reveals the message as a fake.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
In general, never disclose confidential information over the phone if you do not personally and precisely know the caller. The BKA also advises that the police–regardless of the department or agency–never request transfers or inquire about financial circumstances over the phone. They also do not send people to whom you should personally hand over money.
If you receive such a call or a similar one, it is best to hang up immediately. Do not engage in any conversation. The same applies to the aforementioned email, which you should delete immediately and not click on any links. It is also advisable to file a criminal complaint with your local police station.