Phishing netted fraudsters nearly 50 million euros in Belgium in 2024

According to sectoral organisation Febelfin, fraudsters siphoned off 49 million euros through phishing scams in Belgium last year. Febelfin published these findings on Monday in collaboration with research agency Indiville. Public awareness of this type of fraud remains insufficient, even though fraudsters' techniques are becoming more sophisticated.

Febelfin, the federation of the Belgian banking sector, emphasises that online fraud is a persistent issue. In 2024, cybercriminals continued to send mass phishing messages that impersonated trusted individuals or organisations, such as banks or public authorities. Banks managed to detect, block or recover 75 per cent of transfers resulting from such scams, but the amount stolen remains substantial.

Evolving tactics

The financial sector federation also notes that tactics are evolving, with an increasing number of cases in which fraudsters convince victims to carry out money transfers themselves. The fraud often begins with a seemingly legitimate phone call, a professional-looking website or an urgent request via a trusted app, such as itsme.

Nevertheless, Febelfin warns that public awareness remains low among some members of the population. According to a survey, 13 per cent of Belgians polled say they have already fallen victim to phishing, while 8 per cent report never having heard of this form of fraud. This figure rises to 23 per cent among 16–30-year-olds.

Safe on web

To address the problem, the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) launched Safeonweb.be in 2023, a platform offering practical advice on how to avoid online fraud. The initiative encourages users to remain vigilant by checking web addresses carefully, particularly those received via links.

A companion tool, the Safeonweb browser extension, helps users assess website safety using a colour-coded system: green for secure sites and orange for caution. The campaign underscores the importance of recognising misleading domain names that closely mimic official ones. In cases of doubt, consumers are advised to type the known URL directly into their browser rather than clicking on questionable links.

Febelfin stresses the need for ongoing awareness campaigns and the development of digital resilience, especially among younger people.

^{© BELGA PHOTO MAARTEN WEYNANTS}