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Scam Alerts & Fraud Protection: Latest News & Warnings

Belgian Woman Loses €60,000 to Proximus Scam A 47-year-old woman from Leopoldsburg, Belgium, identified as Patricia Scheveneels, lost her life savings of €60,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated phishing scam impersonating the telecommunications company Proximus. The incident,…

Belgian Woman Loses €60,000 to Proximus Scam

A 47-year-old woman from Leopoldsburg, Belgium, identified as Patricia Scheveneels, lost her life savings of €60,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated phishing scam impersonating the telecommunications company Proximus. The incident, reported on February 17, 2026, by De Krantenkoppen and February 19, 2026, by Sudinfo, highlights the growing threat of financial fraud targeting individuals through deceptive phone calls and online tactics.

Details of the Scam

Patricia received a phone call from an individual falsely claiming to be a Proximus employee. The scammer successfully convinced her to disclose sensitive information, ultimately leading to the theft of her savings. According to Patricia, she was “swept away in the story without realizing it.”

Rising Trend of Scams

This incident is not isolated. Recent reports indicate a surge in scams targeting individuals with fraudulent calls and online schemes. An 88-year-old man, Jan, has too recently lost all of his savings due to similar scam tactics. Banks are actively working to combat these attacks, intercepting three out of four successful attempts. Although, the increasing sophistication of scammers continues to pose a significant challenge.

Proximus and Fraud Prevention

Patricia Bettembourg, HR Director at Proximus Luxembourg, is involved in the company’s efforts to address these issues. While specific details of Proximus’s fraud prevention strategies were not available, telecommunications companies generally advise customers to be wary of unsolicited calls requesting personal or financial information.

Recent Similar Case

As reported by MSN, another woman, Patricia (47), lost €60,000 after a phone call from a supposed Proximus employee.

About the author: Marcus Liu - Business Editor

MBA and ex‑B bureau chief specializing in global finance and fintech. Marcus speaks Mandarin, Japanese, and English, and has interviewed CEOs from the Fortune 50 to Y‑Combinator unicorns. Marcus Liu delivers sharp analysis on markets, startups, and corporate strategy for investors and entrepreneurs alike.