Scam notice: fraudsters posing as ECC-Net employees
Scammers are pretending to be employees of the European Consumer Centre (ECC) or the Network of European Consumer Centres (ECC-Net). They contact people via email and phone, claiming they can recover lost funds. These fraudsters often target previous victims of financial fraud but can approach anyone. Have you received an expected message or phone call and aren't sure if it's legitimate? Read on to find out how this scam works and what you can do.
How this scam works
The scammers will claim to represent the ECC or ECC-Net and tell you they have recovered your lost funds. They often mention a Swiss bank account in London, where the money is supposedly being held. To transfer these funds, they will ask you to provide personal details, such as your bank account details or identification documents. They may even try to pressure you by setting an artificial deadline, and try to convince you that you will lose your 'recovered' money if you do not act in time.
To make their story more convincing, they claim to work with well-known organisations such as the European Central Bank (ECB), financial authorities, and even Interpol. None of this is true. The ECC does not reach out to consumers to recover money or collaborate with these entities for such purposes. If someone asks for sensitive personal information this way, stop communicating with them immediately.
Spotting a fake email
Spotting a fake email can be simple if you know what to look for. Fraudulent messages often contain tell-tale signs like:
- Fake job titles
Scammers may create official-sounding roles, such as 'Chief Inspector of the European Consumer Rights Centre,' to add credibility. These roles do not exist. - Incorrect name and logos
You can often tell that an email is fake by double-checking the name and logos used. For example, it may say 'European Consumer Rights Centre' and contain forged logos of the ECC or ECC-Net. - Email inconsistencies
The sender's name may differ from the name in the signature. For example, the sender says 'Andrew Werner', but the signature says 'Andrew Platt'. In addition, the email address usually doesn't match with the official contact details of the ECC. - Urgency through fake deadlines
The scammers may claim you must act quickly or risk losing your money permanently. For example, by saying that you need to respond before 30 December and that they will otherwise donate the funds to charity.
Remember, the ECC will never proactively contact you to offer any services. The services ECC offers are free and ECC does not request payments or personal information. If you have reached out to the ECC yourself, you will only hear from your local ECC office. If you live in the Netherlands, this will be ECC Netherlands — not an office or employee from another country.
What can you do if you receive suspicious messages?
Have you received an email and are you unsure if it is genuine? Do not respond, click on any links, or open any attachments. Be cautious with sensitive personal information and avoid sharing it over the phone. Taking the following steps can help you avoid falling victim to a scam:
Verify the sender
Contact the European Consumer Centre. The ECC can confirm whether a message is legitimate and alert others to potential scams. If you do not live in the Netherlands, please find the official contact details of your local ECC and contact them.- Be careful with your data
Handle your personal data, bank details and identity documents with care. Share this data only through trusted channels and when it is necessary. - Know that ECC services are free
The ECC never asks you to pay or share payment details. The services of the ECC are always free of charge. - Report the scam
You can also report suspicious messages to the Fraudehelpdesk or report it to the police. (Please note that both pages are in Dutch.)