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Germany scam alerts (Deutschland)
Germans lost an estimated €9 B to cybercrime in 2024 per BKA's Bundeslagebild. Investment fraud, 'Falsche Polizisten' (fake police), and Enkeltrick scams targeting older Germans top the list. Below is the live GACS feed of Germany-targeted cases and the official BaFin / BKA / Polizei channels for reporting.
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What this is
This page indexes scams reported by or targeting residents of Germany. Entries are cross-referenced against the BaFin warning list, BKA Bundeslagebild Cybercrime, and the polizei-beratung.de scam register.
Red flags to watch for
- 'Anlageberater' from WhatsApp/Telegram promising guaranteed returns — verify on the BaFin Unternehmensdatenbank
- Caller claims to be from the Polizei or BKA demanding cash for 'protection' (Falsche Polizisten)
- Grandchild emergency call asking for urgent transfer (Enkeltrick)
- Phishing SMS from 'DHL', 'Sparkasse', 'ING-DiBa' with a link to 'verify' — banks never SMS verification links
- Investment platform domain registered in St. Vincent or Marshall Islands posing as German firm
Live cases from the GACS feed
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What to do if you've been targeted
- 1
Halt any pending transfer
Call your bank's Sperr-Notruf (+49 116 116) within minutes — SEPA transfers can sometimes be recalled if reported immediately.
- 2
Report online to your Landespolizei
Use the Onlinewache for your Bundesland — accepts attached screenshots and transaction details.
- 3
Notify BaFin for investment fraud
bafin.de/verbraucher accepts reports of unauthorised firms and clone-firm activity.
- 4
Lock affected accounts
Change passwords, enable Photo-TAN/PushTAN where available, and request a new debit card via your bank app.
- 5
Activate Shield
Save the actor's handles, wallets, and domains to your free GACS Shield watchlist.
FAQs
Where do I report a scam in Germany?
Polizei online: onlinewache of your state (e.g. internetwache-polizei-berlin.de). Investment fraud: BaFin at bafin.de/verbraucher. Phishing: BSI at buergercert@cert-bund.de. ID theft: bka.de.
How do I verify a German financial firm?
Search the BaFin Unternehmensdatenbank (bafin.de). Check the firm's reference number and registered address. BaFin also publishes a 'Warnungen' list of unauthorised providers.
Was ist der 'Schockanruf' und wie reagiere ich?
Anrufer geben sich als Polizei, Staatsanwalt oder Notarzt aus und behaupten, ein Angehöriger habe einen tödlichen Unfall verursacht und brauche sofort Kaution oder Schmuck zur Abholung. Die echte Polizei holt niemals Geld oder Wertsachen ab. Sofort auflegen und die 110 von einem anderen Telefon zurückrufen.
Kann ich eine SEPA-Überweisung nach einem Betrug zurückholen?
SEPA-Echtzeitüberweisungen sind nach Eingang final, aber Standard-SEPA können Banken innerhalb von 1–2 Werktagen zurückrufen, wenn Sie sofort den Sperr-Notruf +49 116 116 anrufen. Ein gesetzlicher Rückbuchungsanspruch besteht nicht — die Empfängerbank entscheidet, ob sie kooperiert.
How do I report a scam to GACS?
Submit the wallet address, website, phone number, or social handle at gacs.app. Each report is cross-checked against CryptoScamDB, URLhaus, and on-chain analysis before publication. Activate your free GACS Shield to monitor follow-on activity tied to the same actor.
Is the GACS Shield really free?
Yes. Activating your free Shield gives you unlimited scans, saved history, weekly alerts, and a watchlist — no card, no trial. There is no paid scanner tier.
Related scam profiles & guides
Activate your free GACS Shield
Save scammer handles, wallets, and domains. Get alerted when the same actor surfaces in a new report. Unlimited scans, no card.
Get My Free Scam AlertsAuthoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
- US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud
Consumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
- UK Action Fraud
UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.
