Dutch Police Arrest Six in Amsterdam Bank Helpdesk Fraud Raid
Published
Key Takeaways
- Six Arrested: Dutch police detained six suspects, aged 15 to 30, on suspicion of bank helpdesk fraud in Amsterdam.
- Caught Mid-Call: Officers found the suspects mid-call with a potential victim during the June 10 raid.
- Devices Seized: Police seized multiple laptops, phones, and several bank cards at the property.
Six people, including a 15-year-old, are under suspicion of bank helpdesk fraud by impersonating bank employees via phone calls and in-person visits to the targets’ houses. Dutch authorities arrested the suspects, aged between 15 and 30, after raiding a residence in Amsterdam on June 10 while “an active conversation with a victim was taking place.”
Inside the Amsterdam Call Center
The scammers allegedly operated a voice phishing (vishing) scheme, posing as bank employees to deceive victims. They contacted people under various pretexts, including attempts to convince targets to "increase their limits." In several cases, police say, the group succeeded in stealing funds from victims' accounts.
According to Dutch police, members also visited victims in person, purportedly offering hands-on assistance to secure their accounts. These house calls added a layer of credibility to the fraud, making the deception feel more legitimate to targets.
The National Intervention Team for Digital Crime was called in to investigate after multiple victims reported their cases. During the June 10 raid, officers found the suspects mid-call with a potential victim.
Scam Threat in the Netherlands
Police seized multiple laptops and phones, along with several bank cards found at the makeshift call center they ran in an Amsterdam home. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
The Netherlands authorities currently target suspects, including those involved in bank helpdesk fraud or police officer impersonation, through Game Over, a law enforcement scheme that shames criminals into surrendering.
This month, Mandiant announced it had discovered that UNC3753 targeted US law firms in a vishing extortion campaign, possibly even using physical access.
A May report outlined that attackers prefer VoIP providers for high-volume, cheaper email scams that reuse phone numbers. In April, the main suspect in a €6 million bank scam was extradited from the US to Sweden.
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