Fake Europol / Interpol police call : fonctionnement, signaux et que faire
Social engineering · alto
The call starts with a computer-generated voice saying your ID card or passport number is being misused and asking you to "press 1". A supposed officer, usually speaking English, claims serious crimes such as drug dealing were committed abroad in your name and that arrest is imminent.
To "close the case", the scammer demands a large payment and walks the victim through opening an account with a money transfer service and sending thousands of euros to a foreign bank. Numbers change constantly. Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) notes that police don't request money transfers by phone, and Europol states on its website that it does not call people. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) also warns of scams using its name.
Sinais / Signs
- A recorded message about misuse of your identity
- A prompt to press 1 to speak to an "officer"
- Accusations of crimes committed abroad in your name
- Payment to "close the investigation"
- Help opening an account and transferring to a foreign bank
- Many calls in a row from different numbers
Prevenção / Prevention
- Remember: Europol does not call citizens
- Police don't request money transfers by phone
- Hang up immediately and don't give any data
- Consider blocking calls from numbers outside your contacts
- Verify any official contact through the agency's official channels
O que fazer / What to do
- If you paid, immediately notify your bank and the transfer service
- File a complaint with local police, in person or online
- Change passwords if you shared account details
- Warn family members, especially older relatives
FAQ
Can Europol call me?
According to the BKA, Europol states on its website that it does not call people.
The number was a local German one. Does that matter?
No. Scammers use automatically generated and spoofed numbers; blocking one has little effect.
tünews - Fake calls in the name of Europol or Interpol (2026) · Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg - Vorsicht Betrug: Anruf nicht von Europol/Interpol · EPPO - Be cautious of scams impersonating EPPO staff members