Online Scams & Fraud in the Netherlands

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March 23, 2023

Though scams continue to be a major problem in the Netherlands, it's now much easier to report a scam. This has seen a continuous increase in the number of scam reports received by the police and scam-fighting countries.

Scammers are now targeting young people, who are now more likely to get scammed than older people. At least 68% of Dutch people have been targeted by scammers, either through phone calls, SMS, or email. It's not all doom and gloom, as the police are stepping up efforts to fight scams and organizations are now offering more tips and guides to help protect consumers.

Read on to find out all you need to know about scams in the Netherlands and where you can report a scam or get help.

Scam Statistics in the Netherlands

The key statistics on online fraud in the Netherlands, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance

  2018 2019 2020 2021
Population 17.18 million 17.3 million 17.4 million 17.5 million
Internet Penetration 93% 97% 94% 91%
# of Scams 65,000 42,000 120,696 1.5 million
Scams / 1,000 4 2.4 6.9 85.5
Money Lost   € 26 million € 80.5 million € 2.6 billion
Money Lost / Capita   € 1.5 € 4.62 € 148
Money Lost / Report   € 619 € 1.076 € 1,732.55

The figures in the table differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.

Where Can I Report a Scam in the Netherlands?

If you have fallen victim to a scam or have suspicions about a likely scam, here are the places where you can report it;

How to Report a Scam in the Netherlands

Reporting a Scam is crucial. At the moment only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0,05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.

  • Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
  • Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
  • Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
  • Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
     

Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.

Scam Victim Support in the Netherlands

  1. Slachtofferwijzer.nl is a renowned support service that offers help to victims in many fields, including scams. Get in touch with them through their email, info@fondsslachtofferhulp.nl.
  2. Victim Support Netherlands will reach out to you if you file a report, and you will be contacted by a counselor. You can also reach them at 0900-010.

How to Check for a Scam in the Netherlands

Of course, you can always check for a scam on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well. They include;

Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities

  • ECP: This PPP strives to create a safe and prosperous environment for Dutch people using online spaces by stimulating cooperation. 
  • VeiligInternetten.nl: This website offers tips and tricks for consumers to help them use the internet safely.
  • AlertOnline: Designed to help companies build their cybersecurity by raising awareness.

Popular Scams in the Netherlands

Rental/Housing Scams

Housing scams in the Netherlands have been on the rise thanks to the housing crisis. Since getting a house is very hard, scammers usually want to take advantage of this and often make offers that seem too good to be true. Some of the more common telltale signs that you may be dealing with a scammer include;

  • Ridiculously low prices
  • Extremely good location close to restaurants, grocery stores, and bars
  • Fully furnished with everything you are looking for
  • Prices inclusive of amenities like water, internet, gas & electricity
  • The rooms are rented separately, for instance, each room costs €400
  • No minimum or maximum time limit. Stay as long as you want
  • A landlord who wants to be paid on Airbnb
  • A landlord cannot show you an apartment because they are in another country.

This, plus many other signs, points to a housing scam that has seen people lose thousands of euros.

You can always check the real landlord of a property through the Kadaster property register. Remember, if a deal is too good, it probably is. 

Scam News From the Netherlands

Image source: Unsplash.com

Report a Scam!

Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!

Help & Info

Popular Stories

As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu

So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking.  If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller.  The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the