June 30, 2025, 3:00 am | Read time: 2 minutes
More and more people are falling victim to fraudulent bank calls, where scammers pose as employees of well-known banks. The goal is to obtain sensitive information, such as push TANs, to carry out transfers.
Recently, reports have increased about fraudulent calls where criminals pose as bank employees. This scam, highlighted by the Consumer Center Hamburg, aims to obtain sensitive bank data by pretending to curb suspicious account activity. They particularly target the so-called push-TAN, which enables transactions.
Fake Bank Calls and Their Dangers
The Consumer Center Hamburg reports that the perpetrators pose as employees of well-known banks such as Haspa, Solarisbank, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, or Postbank. Their approach appears highly professional and convincing, leading many victims to disclose personal information. The danger lies in the potential financial loss from sharing these details.
The fraudsters often use fake phone numbers that closely resemble those of the banks. In one documented case, the displayed number matched the Haspa hotline except for the last digit. However, banks emphasize that they never call customers unsolicited or ask for personal data. Unlike direct debits, transactions authorized by TAN are generally irreversible.
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How to React in Case of Emergency
Therefore, it is recommended to immediately contact the police if fraud is suspected. In certain cases, the police can identify the payment recipient, giving the victim the chance to sue for repayment.
Also of interest: How to Protect Yourself from Transfer Fraud
If you are asked to provide passwords or push-TANs over the phone, you should end the call immediately and contact the affected bank. It is also advised to inform the police. If data has already fallen into the hands of fraudsters, accounts and online access can be blocked using the central lock number 116 116. Acting quickly can prevent greater financial damage in an emergency. In general, never disclose sensitive data over the phone.