Belgian town distributes scam prevention flyer advising bank contact before police

The city of Zoutleeuw is launching a public awareness campaign to combat a growing wave of online fraud, distributing a practical information flyer to its residents. This initiative comes after at least three citizens lost over 10,000 euros each to online scams since the beginning of the year. In one particularly devastating case, a single victim lost more than 300,000 euros.

“

The impact on these victims is enormous. Besides the financial aspect, online fraud also weighs on mental well-being.

Mayor Guy Dumst explained that the idea for the campaign stemmed from residents sharing their experiences at his office. He emphasized the profound impact these scams have, extending beyond financial loss to significant mental distress. The flyer aims to equip residents with a clear, step-by-step plan to follow immediately after realizing they have been defrauded.

“

Usually, they first call the police to report the theft. That is, of course, very important. Yet, that reflex in the first minutes after the scam is actually wrong.

A crucial piece of advice from the flyer, and from Dumst himself, is to contact the bank immediately upon discovering a scam. Contrary to the common reflex of calling the police first, Dumst stresses that banks can intervene most quickly. He noted that banks have dedicated fraud hotlines available around the clock. The recommended sequence is: first, contact the bank; second, contact Card Stop; and third, gather evidence before reporting to the police.

“

Banks can intervene the fastest. Unlike what many people think, banks have fraud lines that are available at any time of the day.

The campaign will utilize both online channels and printed flyers, the latter being deliberately distributed to be visibly placed, for example, on a refrigerator. Dumst believes this physical reminder is essential, as victims are often disoriented and may forget the necessary steps. The flyer also includes contact information for fraud hotlines and emergency numbers for major banks, including some international ones, to provide comprehensive support to residents facing these increasingly sophisticated online threats.

“

People are totally distraught when they are scammed. In this way, we provide a reminder that is always nearby.