Politics
Action against ‘phone phishing’ gang in Belgium and the Netherlands: eight arrests | Eurojust
In a concerted operation, Belgian and Dutch authorities have cracked down on an internationally operating ‘phone phishing’ gang, leading to the arrest of eight suspects. In addition to ‘phishing’, or trying to gain access to bank or financial data by phone or online, the suspects also visited mainly elderly victims at their homes, pretending to be bank employees or police officers. Eurojust and Europol coordinated and supported the actions in Belgium and the Netherlands, where 17 places were also searched.
Most of the fraudulent activities took place in Belgium, but the organised crime group (OCG) behind the scam operated mainly from Rotterdam and other cities in the Netherlands. This week’s arrests have led to the apprehension of the alleged leaders of the OCG, though the investigations into the fraud continue. The fraudsters allegedly scammed victims out of at least several million euros.
At the request of the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO), Eurojust became involved in the case in November 2022. Subsequently Belgian investigative judges also asked for the support of Eurojust, which organised eight coordination meetings to enable the cooperation with the Dutch authorities and support the operation against the OCG.
Throughout the investigation, Europol brought together all partners to facilitate effective coordination and the exchange of information between Member States. Europol experts also provided national authorities with analytical and financial support.
Prevention
Authorities in both countries are warning customers to exercise caution with online transactions and not to trust phone calls allegedly made by banking staff. Citizens are advised to be cautious on the following points:
- Do not trust mails claiming to come from banks that state you urgently need to update your account.
- Do not trust messages claiming that your phone account has been locked and needs updating.
- Be careful when buying goods via secondhand sites if sellers ask for an initial payment of EUR 0.01.
- Do not provide account details, PIN numbers or other financial information over the phone, even if the caller claims to be a bank employee.
- Do not trust phone calls or messages that say you have won a phone or another item but ask you to pay a small amount up front.
- Check URL links sent to you and make sure they start with ‘https://’.
- Beware of links that redirect you to a fake bank site. These may look similar to your bank’s website, but cannot be trusted.
- Do not give any information to individuals claiming to be bank employees who visit your home.
- Criminal groups often ask young people to lend their phone cards or bank accounts for seemingly harmless transactions. The police strongly advises people against this, as it may make them an accomplice to criminal activities.
This week’s operation was carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:
- Belgium: Federal PPO (Federaal Parket); Investigating Judge Court of First Instance Antwerp, section Mechelen (Onderzoeksrechter van Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg Antwerpen, sectie Mechelen); Federal Judicial Police East Flanders (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Oost-Vlaanderen)
- The Netherlands: PPO Rotterdam (Openbaar Ministerie Rotterdam); National Police (Nationale Politie – Eenheid Rotterdam)
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Politics
Support from the EU Solidarity Fund helps Slovenia and Greece recover from climate-related disasters
The Commission paid €328 million in EUSF support to Slovenia to help the country recover from the floods that occurred in August and September of 2023. An additional €76 million was transferred to Greece to ease the financial burden of reconstruction efforts after the damage caused by cyclone ‘Daniel’ in September 2023.
Today’s payments come on top of two EUSF advance payments that were already paid to Slovenia and Greece to help kick-start recovery operations: a €100 million advance payment was paid to Slovenia while a €25 million advance payment was paid to Greece.
Therefore, the total amount of EUSF aid granted to Slovenia and Greece collectively amounts to around €529 million and is a tangible expression of the EU’s solidarity with Member States faced with unprecedented climate-related disasters.
The mobilisation of EUSF is based on applications submitted by eligible countries. The emergency and recovery operations may be financed by the EUSF retroactively from day one of the disaster.
EU standing in solidarity with Slovenia and Greece as they recover and rebuild.
In August 2023, Slovenia experienced severe flooding caused by intense rainfall, which affected almost two-thirds of the country. The Sava, Drava, and Mura rivers burst their banks, with key infrastructure including roads and energy supplies damaged, as well as hundreds of private homes and public buildings. The flooding triggered landslides and resulted in significant economic losses.
In September 2023, Greece was struck by the devastating cyclone ‘Daniel’, which ravaged large parts of Greece, mainly in the regions of Thessaly and Central Greece. The cyclone was the deadliest Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone in recorded history, resulting in the widespread destruction of homes.
The EUSF support made available today will help Slovenia and Greece restore key infrastructure, in the fields of transport, water and wastewater, and will help fund temporary accommodation and rescue services.
Background
The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is the EU’s main instrument for post-disaster recovery and is a tangible expression of EU solidarity. It supports Member States and accession countries hit by climate-related disasters and, since 2020, major health emergencies.
Since 2002, the EUSF has mobilised over €8.6 billion for interventions in 130 disaster events (110 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies) in 24 Member States (plus the United Kingdom) and four accession countries (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Türkiye).
The Commission’s RESTORE proposal which proposes amendments to several funding regulations is another expression of the EU standing in solidarity with countries faced with climate-related disasters. The proposal is currently with the co-legislators for adoption.
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New EU cybersecurity rules take effect today, which will make everything from baby-monitors to smart watches safer. With the entry into force of the Cyber Resilience Act, specific mandatory cybersecurity requirements will now apply to all products connected directly or indirectly to another device or network (except for specified exclusions). These requirements will be imposed on manufacturers and retailers.
The Act will guarantee
- harmonised rules when bringing to market products or software with a digital component
- a framework of cybersecurity requirements governing the planning, design, development and maintenance of such products, with obligations to be met at every stage of the value chain
- an obligation to provide duty of care for the entire lifecycle of such products
In practice this means that manufacturers will have to place compliant products on the EU market by 2027. These products will bear the CE marking to indicate they comply with the new standards. By requiring manufacturers and retailers to prioritise cybersecurity, customers and businesses will be empowered to make better-informed choices.
The EU works on various fronts to promote cyber resilience. Underpinning this work is the EU Cyber Security Strategy which was presented at the end of 2020. It covers the security of essential services such as hospitals, energy grids and railways, as well as of the ever-increasing number of connected objects in our homes, offices and factories. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) is the EU agency dedicated to achieving a high common level of cybersecurity across Europe.
Cybersecurity and enforcing EU digital laws will continue to be important throughout the 2024-2029 Commission mandate. The Commission will soon propose a European action plan on the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers to safeguard healthcare systems.
For more information
EU Cyber Resilience Act
Cyber security policies
CE marking
A new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)
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Action against ‘phone phishing’ gang in Belgium and the Netherlands: eight arrests | Eurojust
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