Financial Crime World

Elderly Victims Lose €150,000 in Bank Helpdesk Fraud and ATM Scams in The Netherlands

The Netherlands, known for its robust financial system, has faced a surge in bank helpdesk fraud and ATM scams, leading to significant financial losses for unsuspecting victims. This disconcerting trend was made evident in a series of incidents last year and early this year.

Bank Helpdesk Fraud

  • Astonishing Losses: Elderly citizens in The Netherlands were scammed out of €128,000 in a bank helpdesk fraud case that lasted from October to December 2020.
  • Posing as Bank Employees: The fraudsters posed as employees from ING and ABN Amro banks and convinced their victims to hand over bank details and PINs, insisting on securing their accounts against potential fraud.
  • Card Collection Scam: The victims were instructed to leave their bank cards in envelopes for collection, allowing the fraudsters to withdraw thousands of euros using these cards.

Emotional and Financial Impact

  • Demand for Long Sentences: The emotional and financial impact on the victims was substantial, prompting the prosecutor to demand sentences of up to 40 months for the accused.

ATM Scams

  • Cashtraps: In a series of ATM scams in The Hague during the summer, criminals used cashtraps resembling cover plates, which were fixed over the cash dispensing slots.
  • No Cash Dispensed: Unsuspecting victims, believing that the ATM was malfunctioning due to no cash being dispensed, would leave empty-handed, enabling the perpetrator to later retrieve the trapped cash.

Breakthrough in Investigation

  • Arrest of a Romanian Man: A breakthrough occurred on September 28, 2023, when a 39-year-old Romanian man was arrested in Rotterdam, confessed to his involvement in these thefts, and was linked to the seized cashtraps.

Jewelry Theft Scam

  • New Wave of Scams: Elderly victims have also been targeted by a disturbing resurgence of a notorious jewelry theft scam.
  • Posing as Bank Employees: Criminals pose as bank employees and convince their victims to hand over their bank cards and PINs, supposedly for security reasons.
  • Swift Plunder: Once collected, these criminals swiftly plunder their victims’ bank accounts.

Demand for Longer Prison Sentences

  • Three Men Arrested: The Dutch Public Prosecutor demanded prison sentences of 2 years for three men from Eindhoven, Ittervoort, and Heerlen for their involvement in these scams.

Threat Intelligence Lab

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