Dear Customers,
We are increasingly receiving information and questions from you about potential scams. They usually involve receiving a text message or email with information about an unpaid debt. Most often they impersonate institutions such as Belastingdienst, SVB, RDW or utility providers.
Often such messages and their senders look very credible, giving the impression of an official source of contact. So we want to introduce you to the simplest methods of checking their authenticity.
Belastingdienst
Not sure of the amount to be subsidized?
1. Check your backlog online:
Visit Belastingdienst – Overzicht Betalen en Ontvangen, where you can see all your arrears to Belastingdienst.
Attention: If payment is deferred due to coronavirus (coronauitstel) will not be given one amount, but several different receivables. Some amounts may be out of date, but will give you an idea of the actual arrears.
2. Respond only to official letter calls:
Belastingdienst always informs about the amounts to be paid by letter. This is a guarantee that the information is true. Scammers do not send named letters containing your BSN number or details of taxes to be paid.
Other Companies and Institutions
When you receive a suspicious text message or email:
- Don’t panic and don’t click on any links.
- Log on directly to the official site:
If you have insurance or a fine to pay, check this information by logging in via DigiD. This gives confidence that the amount is real.
- Check your customer account:
For private companies, you usually have access to a customer account. Log in there to verify the information.
What if the previous two steps didn’t help?
- Contact the institution directly:
Call or e-mail the institution in question. It is better to incur the possible costs of a reminder than to transfer money to a scammer.
Additional Information and Assistance
- Reporting Fraud:
If you suspect a scam attempt, report it to the following website Fraudehelpdesk. This is the official help center for fraud in the Netherlands.
- Safety Tips:
– Dutch Police – Internet Fraud: www.politie.nl/themas/fraude.html Information about different types of scams and how to protect yourself from them.
– Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM): www.acm.nl/nl Consumer advice on scams and unfair practices.
- Recognizing Fake News:
– Pay attention to spelling and grammatical errors.
– Check the sender’s e-mail address – it often differs from the official one.
– Never provide sensitive data through links in messages.
- News and Warnings:
– Follow official announcements on the websites of institutions such as Belastingdienst or SVB.
- Secure Login:
– Use only official apps and websites.
– Check if the site is secured (padlock symbol in the address bar).
Remember that caution and common sense are the best protection against fraud. If you have doubts, you can always contact the institution or company directly.