Banking Scams Surge in Brabant Wallon: Stay Vigilant
The public prosecutor’s office of Brabant Wallon has recorded a surge in complaints for fraudulent online bank withdrawals in recent days, with fraudsters using deceptive emails and impersonating bank officials to steal thousands of euros from residents. Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution against these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
According to DH Les Sports+, several residents of the Walloon province have lost thousands of euros after responding to fraudulent text messages or emails purporting to be from their bank, Card Stop, or the digital identification service itsme. The same story was also reported by L’Avenir.
The Modus Operandi
The prosecutor’s office described a consistent pattern in the complaints it has received. Victims receive an SMS or email asking them to contact a phone number or click on a link. This is followed by requests for banking operations that ultimately result in fraudulent withdrawals of several thousand euros.
“Each time, the modus operandi is the same: the victim receives an SMS or email asking them to contact a phone number or click on a link,” the parquet stated. “This is followed by requests for banking operations that result in fraudulent withdrawals of several thousand euros.”
Fraudsters are impersonating legitimate institutions, including banks, Card Stop, and itsme, to gain victims’ trust and extract sensitive banking information.
A Growing National Problem
The surge in Brabant Wallon is part of a broader trend of banking fraud across Belgium. In June 2025, Belgian police dismantled a criminal network responsible for large-scale itsme fraud, identifying approximately 300 victims with total losses estimated at 1.2 million euros, as RTBF reported. The fraudsters used sophisticated “spoofing” techniques to impersonate itsme fraud department agents.
These scams rely on social engineering, a form of psychological manipulation that exploits urgency and fear. As RTBF noted, Febelfin and Belgian Mobile ID have warned that “it is essential to never approve an action in itsme that you have not triggered yourself.”
Local Authorities Fight Back
Brabant Wallon authorities have been actively combating scams for years. In 2023, Governor Gilles Mahieu and Prosecutor Marc Rézette launched the “Mamie rusée” (Cunning Grandma) campaign, targeting door-to-door scams and fraud against elderly and isolated residents. The campaign, detailed on the Governor of Brabant Wallon’s website, has been renewed annually with updated materials.
“In Brabant Wallon, we have this desire to work together as much as possible with our partners, whether in crisis management or, as is the case here, to launch coordinated communication operations on the territory in the face of a phenomenon that is growing,” Governor Mahieu said, as reported by Wawa Magazine.
Prosecutor Rézette also reminded the public of the legal consequences for perpetrators: “The perpetrators of these acts risk imprisonment of 1 month to 5 years and a fine of 208 to 24,000 euros.”
New Tools to Combat Fraud
The financial sector has responded with new initiatives. In June 2026, Febelfin launched Fraudstop, a centralized contact point for online fraud victims, accessible 24/7 at 078 170 170, as DH Les Sports+ reported. The number deliberately reuses the well-known Card Stop number to make it easier for consumers to remember in emergency situations.
“Belgian banks have had dedicated numbers to fight fraud for several years, but in a panic, it is not always easy for consumers to quickly find the right contact details,” said Rob Beenders, Minister for Consumer Protection. “Stress, confusion, pressure exerted by fraudsters: all factors that delay the reaction and increase the risk of financial losses.”
In July 2026, Belgian banks also announced a 15-action plan against online fraud, including a reduced standard daily transfer limit of 5,000 euros for individual clients, as La Libre reported.
What Residents Should Do
Authorities offer clear advice to protect against these scams:
- Never click on links received by SMS or email from unknown senders
- When a connection is necessary, use the official applications of your bank, Card Stop, or itsme
- Never approve an action in itsme that you did not trigger yourself
- Be wary of unsolicited calls claiming to be from Card Stop or your bank - these institutions never call proactively
- If you suspect fraud, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to police
As Test Achats emphasizes, Card Stop never calls consumers proactively - any such call is a red flag.
What to Watch For
As fraudsters continue to refine their techniques, authorities expect the problem to persist. The combination of sophisticated social engineering, spoofed phone numbers, and fake emails means that even cautious consumers can be caught off guard. The key defense remains awareness and the willingness to verify any unexpected request independently before acting.
Residents who believe they have been targeted are encouraged to report the incident to police and their bank without delay. The faster the response, the better the chances of recovering lost funds and preventing further damage.