Current Warning

1st of October

Beware of Fraudulent Calls with Fake Numbers

Fraudulent calls from fake "bank employees" are currently on the rise again. Using technical tricks such as caller ID spoofing, the criminals can also fake our landline phone number - so don't be fooled by a possibly familiar phone number or our name on your display!

These calls are often preceded by a phishing text message, e.g. in the name of “Finanz Online”: If you respond to the SMS and disclose your data, the criminals will use this information in their calls to convincingly pose as bank employees.

During these calls, the alleged “bank employees” explain that someone has managed to access your online banking and has made fraudulent transactions. Furthermore, they claim that these transactions now must be "cancelled" by you.

What is actually happening

  • Actually, these calls do not come from us. In reality, these are fraud attempts.

  • By asking for your user number on the phone and urging you to make ill-considered authorisations or by using remote access software, the perpetrators try to log in to George on your behalf.

  • If the fraudsters succeed in logging in in this way, they then prepare outgoing transfers.

  • The goal of the criminals is to trick you into rashly authorising their prepared transactions.

How you can protect yourself

  • Ignore such text messages, especially if they contain links.

  • Be vigilant and, if in doubt, simply end the call and do not follow any requests for logins, transfers or alleged "cancellations".

  • Always check precisely what you authorise: As explained here, we never ask for authorisations from our customers to "cancel" or "retrieve" fraudulent transfers.

  • Therefore, pay close attention to what you are authorising and only authorise what you have started yourself.

  • If in doubt, use our 24/7 Support ("Contact" in your app) – this will guarantee that you reach a trustworthy employee from us.

Further information on this scam can be found at Watchlist Internet (German).

How to recognise fraud

  • You receive unexpected, but urgent requests concerning your finances.
  • The communication begins on insecure (easily accessible) channels such as SMS, email, messenger or social media.
  • Pressure is built up to tempt you to act quickly or rashly (e.g. disclose personal data or authorisations).
  • Links that lead to fake-pages on which personal or confidential data should be provided are sent to you.

Internet Fraud and Scams you need to be aware of

All Warnings at a Glance

This might also interest you

The most common scams

Security Tips

Secure online payments

You need urgent help?

Supported browsers

George ID

Responsible Disclosure