Belgian banks launch single hotline for online fraud victims

People in Belgium who think they may have fallen victim to online banking fraud can now call a single national hotline for help.

The new service, called Fraudstop, uses the same number as the existing Card Stop service: 078 170 170. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Previously, each bank had its own fraud helpline, which could be difficult to find in an emergency. Fraudstop aims to make reporting suspected fraud quicker and easier. Callers can be connected to their bank’s fraud department or receive instructions on how to block access to their banking apps and accounts.

Banks and authorities are warning consumers that Fraudstop will never call customers directly. Criminals sometimes pretend to be Card Stop or bank employees to obtain personal information. Banks will never ask for PIN codes, passwords or request customers to carry out transactions.

Most major Belgian banks are taking part in the scheme, although some online-only banks, including Revolut, are not currently listed. Customers of those banks may still need to contact their bank directly.

The initiative was launched by the Belgian banking federation Febelfin and Consumer Protection minister Rob Beenders. It forms part of wider efforts to combat phishing and online scams, which remain a growing problem in Belgium.

According to the Belgian Centre for Cybersecurity, more than 40,000 phishing reports were submitted each day on average during the first three months of this year, a 50 per cent increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Belgian banks are expected to present a broader anti-phishing action plan later this summer.

^{© BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ}