The European Central Bank (ECB) has issued a warning on its website regarding criminals using contact numbers, email addresses, and websites that mimic those of the ECB. The institution advises the public to avoid clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding to unsolicited invitations or campaigns if any doubts arise.
Scenarios include individuals reaching out, claiming to represent the ECB, and asserting they hold money belonging to the contacted party. Such interactions are fraudulent since the central bank does not maintain bank accounts for private citizens.
The ECB also emphasized that it never requests personal information from citizens through mail, email, phone calls, text messages, or instant messages. Furthermore, Executive Board members will not contact individuals to discuss financial matters or promote investment schemes.
The rise of artificial intelligence has led to an increase in counterfeit videos and websites showcasing ECB employees endorsing investments.
Fraudsters have also spread misinformation that the ECB imposes charges for international transfers or operates as a commercial bank providing online banking services.
In some fraudulent schemes, individuals are asked to make payments due to the ECB allegedly blocking a money transfer or collecting deposits or payments for transactions in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Additionally, fake messages seeking funds have been detected, falsely claiming that the ECB is gathering resources for fraud victims and encouraging them to take out loans.
