--- title: "Scams in Germany: latest scams and where to report" url: https://tapsafely.com/scams-in-germany source: TapSafely description: "The scams hitting people in Germany most, official figures, who scammers pretend to be, and where to report a scam." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Scams by country](https://tapsafely.com/scams-by-country)/ Germany Scams by country # Scams in Germany: what to watch for right now A plain summary of the scams official agencies in Germany warn about most, with the latest published figures and the fastest way to get help. By the TapSafely editorial team · Updated 16 September 2026 ## The numbers German police recorded about 335,000 cybercrime cases in 2025, and about two thirds of them (207,888) were committed from abroad or from an unknown location. [Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)](https://www.bka.de/DE/Presse/Listenseite_Pressemitteilungen/2026/Presse2026/260512_PM_BLB_Cybercrime.html) In 2024, German police recorded 131,391 cybercrime cases committed in Germany, plus 201,877 cases committed from abroad or from an unknown location. [Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)](https://www.bka.de/DE/AktuelleInformationen/StatistikenLagebilder/Lagebilder/Cybercrime/2024/CC_2024.html) ## Scams to watch for in Germany Common in Germany ### Fake police officer calls German police warn that callers pose as police officers, often with a spoofed local number, and claim your money or valuables at home or in the bank are not safe. The police say they will never ask you for money. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/bank-safe-account-scam) Common in Germany ### "Hello Mum" messenger scams German police warn about WhatsApp and other messenger messages from people posing as your child or grandchild, who say their phone is broken, share a new number and then ask for an urgent transfer. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/hi-mum-new-number-scam) Common in Germany ### Fake trading platforms and cybertrading BaFin and the police warn about fake online trading platforms promoted on social media, sometimes with celebrity photos, that show invented profits in crypto or CFDs while no real trading takes place. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/crypto-investment-scams) Common in Germany ### Fake parcel delivery texts The Verbraucherzentrale warns about texts posing as delivery services that say a parcel cannot be delivered or ask for a small customs fee, then steal card details or install harmful apps. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/fake-delivery-texts) Common in Germany ### Fake online shops German police warn about fake shops with very low prices where, in the end, you can only pay in advance by bank transfer and the goods never arrive. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/fake-online-shops) ## Who scammers pretend to be Police officers · Children and grandchildren · Banks such as Sparkasse and Postbank · Parcel delivery services · ELSTER, the tax portal · Celebrities in fake investment ads Never trust a call, text or email just because it uses one of these names. Contact the organisation using details you find yourself. ## If you've been scammed in Germany 1. If someone is at your door or putting you under pressure right now, call the police on 110. Real police officers never ask you for money or valuables. 2. Contact your bank straight away through its usual channels to stop or recall the payment. 3. Report the fraud to the police online through the Onlinewache portal at portal.onlinewache.polizei.de, choosing your federal state, or at any police station. 4. Before investing, check that the firm is licensed in BaFin's company database. ## Where to report a scam in Germany - [Report online to your state police (Onlinewache)](https://www.hilfe-info.de/Webs/hilfeinfo/DE/EigeneRechteKennen/Strafverfahren/Anzeige/Onlinewache/Onlinewache_node.html) - [Forward phishing emails to phishing@verbraucherzentrale.nrw](mailto:phishing@verbraucherzentrale.nrw) - [Complain about spam SMS to the Bundesnetzagentur](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Vportal/TK/Aerger/Faelle/SMSSpam/start.html) Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work. ## Scam Weather for Germany Loading… ### Got a suspicious message? Check it free. It works in any language. [Check a message](https://tapsafely.com/#check) ## Questions What are the most common scams in Germany? According to official sources: Fake police officer calls, "Hello Mum" messenger scams, Fake trading platforms and cybertrading, Fake parcel delivery texts, Fake online shops. What should I do first if I've been scammed in Germany? If someone is at your door or putting you under pressure right now, call the police on 110. Real police officers never ask you for money or valuables. Contact your bank straight away through its usual channels to stop or recall the payment. Who do scammers pretend to be in Germany? Official warnings mention Police officers, Children and grandchildren, Banks such as Sparkasse and Postbank, Parcel delivery services, ELSTER, the tax portal, Celebrities in fake investment ads. ## Official sources and further reading Figures and warnings on this page come from these official sources. - [Bundeslagebild Cybercrime 2025: Deutschland im Fokus von Cyberkriminellen](https://www.bka.de/DE/Presse/Listenseite_Pressemitteilungen/2026/Presse2026/260512_PM_BLB_Cybercrime.html) (Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)) - [Falscher Polizist](https://www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/betrug/betrug-durch-falsche-polizisten/) (Polizeiliche Kriminalprävention der Länder und des Bundes (polizei-beratung.de)) - [Enkeltrick Betrug](https://www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/betrug/enkeltrick/) (Polizeiliche Kriminalprävention der Länder und des Bundes (polizei-beratung.de)) - [Vorsicht vor betrügerischen Handelsplattformen](https://www.bafin.de/DE/verbraucherinnen-verbraucher/themen-finanzprodukte/finanzbetrug-erkennen/anlagebetrug/betruegerische-handelsplattformen/betruegerische-handelsplattformen.html) (BaFin) - [Onlinewachen der Polizeien der Länder](https://portal.onlinewache.polizei.de/de/) (Polizeien der Länder)