Beware of Fraudulent Calls in the Name of various Police Authorities

As reported in the media, scammers are currently making fraudulent calls in the name of Interpol, Europol or a so called „Federal” or “Austrian Police Department“.

These mostly English-speaking scammers are trying to intimidate their victims with false criminal allegations into making money transfers or purchasing online vouchers. In the course of these calls the victims are asked to provide personal or bank account details. Moreover, the scammers often try to make you install malicious software on their computer or smartphone in order to get access to your devices.
 

How you can recognize a scam:

• Most often the scammers are English-speaking
• At the beginning of a call you hear a tape - only after you dial a number on your phone a real person will talk to you
• Very often the topics brought up concern your „Identity Card“ or you are confronted with an alleged arrest warrant
• In some cases, it is said that there were „suspicious transactions" on your bank account
• The criminals try to find out about your personal data like your address or bank account details
• Very often they will try to install malicious software on your computer or smartphone to obtain access to your device and perform further fraudulent activities.

Here you can find more detailed information from the Austrian Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), the Austrian Telcoms Regulation Authority (RTR) or from Interpol.

Do not follow the instructions of the scammers and quit the phone call. In case you are personally concerned, please make a report at your local police office.

Did you already disclose (confidential) information on such a phone call? Do you have questions? In these cases, please contact our s ServiceCenter at: 05 0100 – 50200. We are always there for you.