Recently, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has been warning about a growing wave of fraudulent phone calls in which callers falsely claim to be officers from Europol or other law enforcement agencies. These calls are part of a sophisticated scam in which perpetrators pretend to represent official authorities in order to gain trust and persuade their victims to disclose personal information or transfer money.

We want to shed light on the background and equip you with the tools you need to protect yourself. In addition, we will present ways and means to take action against fraudsters and defend yourself.

Background to the fraud

The fraudsters use a variety of techniques to appear credible. Often, the calls begin with an automated message in English, dramatically warning that the recipient’s personal data has been misused for criminal activities. This tactic is designed to create panic and fear in the victims, prompting them to act hastily.

Technologically, the fraudsters are often so skilled that they can manipulate their caller ID, making a phone number appear on the recipient’s display that is actually associated with real police departments. This phenomenon is known as ‘spoofing’ and is intended to reinforce the credibility of their false claims.

If the victim follows the instructions of the automated message and presses a specific key (often ‘1’), they are connected to a real fraudster. This person then tries, in fluent English, to extort further personal information, banking details, or even direct financial payments. If the victim resists or expresses doubt, the call is quickly terminated to cover their tracks. It can also be assumed that the fraudsters have only limited capacity for calls and want to use it efficiently. Therefore, they prefer to dedicate their resources to victims who immediately fall for the scam and willingly provide information.

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Network Agency, the number of such fraudulent calls has risen dramatically in recent months. Thousands of complaints have already been filed, highlighting the urgency of broad public awareness.

Protective measures and prevention – What can be done?

To protect yourself against this scam, we align with the recommendations of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), which we would like to supplement. The following measures should be taken:

• Information restraint: Do not disclose personal data, banking information, or other sensitive details over the phone.
• Maintain skepticism: Be cautious of calls claiming to be from law enforcement agencies, especially if they request payments or personal information.
• End communication: If you suspect that a call is not legitimate, terminate the conversation immediately.
• Verification: Contact the alleged authority using an officially verified phone number to confirm the legitimacy of the request.
• Report the incident: Report suspicious calls to your local police station to enable further investigations and warn other potential victims.

In principle, it is possible that local police may try to reach witnesses or relatives by phone, but always in German. Furthermore, Europol officers would only very rarely have any reason to contact citizens by telephone. This is due to the agency’s role and powers.

What are Europol's responsibilities?

Europol was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The agency supports the 27 EU member states in combating terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, and other serious forms of organized crime. Europol is divided into various units, each specializing in specific areas of crime. These include, for example, the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC). These specialized units enable a focused and effective response to specific threats.

Europol primarily acts as an information hub for the police forces of the member states. The agency collects, analyzes, and disseminates relevant information on crimes and security threats. By providing analytical and coordination support, Europol assists national authorities in conducting investigations. One of Europol’s main strengths is its ability to maintain and analyze extensive databases containing information on crime and suspects. The exchange of this information between member states is crucial for cross-border cooperation. Data protection and safeguarding citizens’ rights are central concerns that are strictly regulated.

Europol’s work is governed by EU law, particularly the Europol Regulation, which defines the agency’s powers, organization, and operational procedures. Europol is subject to oversight by the European Parliament, the European Court of Auditors, and the European Data Protection Supervisor to ensure transparency and accountability. In addition to cooperation within the EU, Europol also works with third countries and international organizations. These international partnerships are essential for effectively combating global criminal networks.

Europol therefore plays a crucial role in ensuring internal security in Europe by serving as a central hub for collecting and analyzing criminal intelligence and promoting operational cooperation between the police authorities of the member states. As a result, the agency almost never, if ever, comes into direct contact with citizens of EU countries.

How can you defend yourself if you have fallen victim to fraud?

The following immediate measures should be taken to protect yourself from further crimes:

• Contact your bank: If you have disclosed financial information or made transfers, contact your bank immediately. The bank may be able to stop or reverse transactions and block further fraudulent attempts. Please note that reversing transfers in Germany is only possible to a limited extent.
• Report the incident: Notify the police about the case. Fraud is a criminal offense, and the police can initiate investigations that may help track down the perpetrators and link your case to those of other victims.
• Notify consumer protection authorities: In Germany, you can contact the consumer advice center (Verbraucherzentrale) or the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), which can take further action. If the case involves broker fraud or similar issues, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is responsible.
• Document the incident: Record all information related to the fraud, including the phone number, the time of the call, the content of the conversation, and any other relevant details. This information can be useful for the police and other authorities.
• Warn your circle: Inform friends, acquaintances, and family about the scam. Depending on which data you have disclosed, people close to you could also become targets.
• Update passwords: If login credentials have been disclosed, passwords should be changed. If that is no longer possible, the provider of the respective platform must be informed to initiate an account lock.

If you need assistance in filing a criminal complaint or want to trace leads using blockchain forensics, you should definitely get in touch with CryptoTracing. Even in cases where the Europol scam has been used, our expertise is invaluable because we can effectively protect victims. We close the gaps that authorities, for various reasons, cannot close when it comes to preventing follow-up crimes. CryptoTracing works in close cooperation with attorney Marc Maisch, who specializes in crypto and online fraud and will gladly advise you on all legal matters.

Through targeted investigations, the collection and documentation of evidence, and support in filing a criminal complaint, the chances of effectively prosecuting the perpetrators increase. Contact us today through our form, and we will get back to you promptly to discuss the next steps in person.

FAQ on fake calls from Europol