The Luxembourg police have reported a recent rise in scams involving individuals pretending to be police officers or bank employees. Several cases have been recorded in which the perpetrators use a well-practised method to deceive their victims.
The scheme often follows the same pattern: a person receives a call from someone claiming to work for a bank, who reports suspicious transactions or issues with the victim’s account. The caller then claims that a representative from the bank or the police will collect bank cards and verify access details.
Authorities stress that every police officer in Luxembourg speaks fluent Luxembourgish and can present official identification. In case of doubt, the public is strongly advised to call 113, the emergency number.
The police also emphasise that neither banks nor reputable institutions will ever ask citizens to hand over bank cards or access codes to a stranger, nor request personal information over the phone.
Citizens are urged to remain cautious and not give in to pressure. If in doubt, it is best to contact the institution in question directly.
The authorities also encourage solidarity: inform elderly relatives or acquaintances, who are often more vulnerable to such scams, and help them recognise the signs of a fraud attempt.
To assist in identifying genuine officers, examples of authentic police ID cards and uniforms have also been made available.
