Belgium Scams: Online, Banking & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in Belgium and how to report them to the CCB, Belgian Federal Police, and your bank.
Emergency number: 101 (police), 112 (emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Belgium experiences significant volumes of online fraud including phishing targeting banking credentials, smishing impersonating banks or bpost (the postal service), investment scams, and marketplace non-delivery. The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) and its public-facing platform Safeonweb.be provide guidance, threat alerts, and an incident reporting portal. Criminal complaints are filed with the Federal Police or local police zone, and consumer rights violations can be reported via the ConsumerConnect reporting platform (meldpunt.belgie.be). Acting quickly with your bank after any suspected fraudulent transfer significantly improves the chance of a recall.
Common scams
- Phishing and smishing impersonating Belgian banks or bpost
- Investment and crypto fraud
- Marketplace non-delivery and overpayment scams
- Remote-access fraud via fake bank helpdesk calls
Tourist-specific scams
- Overcharging unlicensed taxis in Brussels
- Distraction theft in busy tourist areas and on public transport
Online shopping scams
- Fake online shops and classified listings
- Parcel-fee smishing impersonating bpost
- Account takeover phishing targeting banking credentials
Job scams
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Fake job offers requiring upfront document or application fees
Romance scams
- Dating-app romance and cryptocurrency investment grooming
Investment scams
- Clone broker and fake trading platforms
- Crypto and 'AI bot' investment schemes
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately using the number on your card
- Report cybercrime incidents to the CCB via ccb.belgium.be/cert/report-incident
- Forward suspicious emails and texts to [email protected] ([email protected])
- File a police complaint online at police.be or at your local police station
- Report consumer rights violations at meldpunt.belgie.be
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank immediately using the number on your card or official app — Belgian banks can attempt to recall fraudulent transfers most effectively within the first few hours. No legitimate bank or government body will ask you to transfer money to a 'safe account' or share one-time passwords by phone.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is Safeonweb.be?
Safeonweb.be is the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium's public awareness platform. It publishes threat alerts, advice on current scam campaigns, and allows citizens to forward suspicious emails or texts to [email protected] for analysis.
How do I report fraud to the Belgian Police?
You can file a report online at police.be or at your local police station. For cybercrime specifically, the CCB reporting portal at ccb.belgium.be/cert/report-incident handles incident notifications.
Where do I report a consumer rights violation in Belgium?
Use the ConsumerConnect reporting platform at meldpunt.belgie.be to report violations to the Economic Inspection, or contact the European Consumer Centre Belgium for cross-border issues.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance