Belgian Woman Loses €60,000 to Proximus and Argenta Bank Impersonation Scam

A woman from Leopoldsburg, Belgium, has lost €60,000 after being defrauded by scammers posing as representatives from telecommunications company Proximus and bank Argenta. The incident mirrors a similar case in Heusden-Zolder, where a family lost €16,000, suggesting a coordinated effort by the criminals.

How the Scam Unfolded

The victim received a phone call from a private number, which she wasn’t immediately suspicious of as she was expecting a call from a private number that day. The caller, identifying himself as “Daan” and claiming to be a Proximus employee, stated her SIM card was outdated and needed urgent updating to avoid service interruption over the weekend. Redactie24 reports the scammer sounded “calm and professional.”

“Daan” instructed the woman to download an application bearing the Proximus logo and to perform actions using her bank card and card reader in another program. He then informed her that her Argenta banking app would be temporarily unavailable the following day, promising to call back. He was aware her direct debits were processed through Argenta, which further convinced the victim of his legitimacy.

As predicted, the banking app became inaccessible. While the scammers were likely siphoning funds at this point, the victim was unaware. When the “Proximus employee” called back, he requested she download another app. This prompted the woman to become suspicious and search online for information about phishing scams.

Upon contacting Argenta’s fraud department, she discovered that €60,000 had been stolen in four separate transactions. Het Belang van Limburg reported the victim described feeling devastated, stating the lost money represented her and her daughter’s entire savings.

Scammers’ Final Taunt

Adding insult to injury, the victim received a WhatsApp message from the scammers after the theft – a simple waving hand emoji, which she interpreted as a callous message: “Bye bye, we have your money.”

Protecting Yourself from Similar Scams

Authorities emphasize the importance of exercising caution when prompted to download applications. Even if an app appears legitimate, featuring the logo of a well-known company like Proximus, it could contain malware granting scammers access to your device, passwords, and financial information.

Recent Trends in Impersonation Scams

Scammers posing as Proximus and Argenta employees have been increasingly active in Belgium in recent weeks, targeting multiple victims. Het Belang van Limburg reported on similar incidents, highlighting the growing sophistication of these schemes.