Fake Card Stop Worker Steals 17,000 Euro in Belgium

A 44-year-old woman in Belgium lost 17,000 euro after being targeted by a scammer who falsely claimed to be an employee of Card Stop, the Belgian service used to block bank cards and certain payment methods.

The scam began with a phone call in which the fraudster claimed that 1,250 euro had been taken from the woman’s bank account. Pretending to help protect her money, the scammer convinced her to follow his instructions.

The fraudster eventually managed to obtain access to information or banking operations that allowed him to steal a total of 17,000 euro.

The case is an example of telephone fraud, commonly known as vishing, in which criminals impersonate trusted organizations such as banks, Card Stop or the police.

How the Card Stop Scam Works in Belgium?

Scammers often tell victims that a suspicious payment has been detected on their account and then create a sense of urgency by claiming that immediate action is required.

The caller may know some personal information about the victim or mention their bank, making the conversation sound legitimate. The scammer then tries to persuade the victim to approve transactions, provide sensitive information or use banking applications and digital identification services.

Belgian police have warned about fraudsters pretending to be Card Stop or bank employees and convincing victims to perform actions through their banking apps or itsme, which can allow criminals to transfer money from their accounts.

Card Stop Does Not Ask for Secret Codes

Card Stop warns that scammers can call from unknown numbers while pretending to be its employees.

A genuine Card Stop employee will never ask for your secret code or the access code to your payment method. You should never provide these details over the phone, by text message or through email.

If someone unexpectedly calls claiming that money has been taken from your account, do not assume the call is genuine simply because the person knows your name or bank.

What to Do After a Suspicious Call?

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact your bank directly using an official phone number.

If you have already shared banking information or approved a suspicious transaction, contact your bank immediately and ask what steps you need to take to protect your account.

Card Stop can also be contacted to block eligible cards and payment methods.

The safest rule is simple: never transfer money, approve a transaction or share secret banking information because an unexpected caller claims to be protecting your account.