Recently, we have been receiving more reports of so-called robocalls. A robocall is an automatically generated telephone call. If you are called by a robocall, you will hear a pre-recorded message or a robotic voice. You will be asked to dial a number to continue. Never respond to such messages. It is an attempt to get your details and then defraud you.
An example of a message from last week:
I was just contacted by phone by a number from Spain (+34) I received a recorded message saying that I would be involved in a case of identity fraud and money laundering. After talking to a woman, she called herself Catherine Wagner, I was put through to another person. He called himself George Myra. Because I asked how I could know if he was really from the police/Europol, he called me with the number +31 70 302 xx xx (The Hague, South Holland). Then he called me with the 'secure' number +34 xxxxxxx (Spain). During the conversation the woman asked me to spell my name and also the last three digits of my national number. During the conversation with the man, he asked me which bank I was with and how many accounts I had. He also asked me what type of accounts I had.
Robocalls can be used by companies for actions towards their customers. Unfortunately, robocalls are mostly used by scammers. You receive a call that seems to come from the police or a government service that wants to warn you about a problem with your bank card. Then your details are requested and you can be scammed.
What to do if you receive an incoming call from an unknown number?
- Never give out personal details, passwords, bank card codes or response codes.
- Disconnect the call as soon as possible if it is a suspicious call.