How this scam works
In subsidy or tax refund phone scams, scammers try to mislead you so that you transfer money into their account.
They often pretend they’re calling from an associated or government accounting department, or from your municipality. They say that you are entitled to a refund and that the invoice payment process has changed.
Their most common methods include:
Virtual transaction into a third-party account – They try to convince you that, to approve the refund, you need to carry out a transaction into a third-party account first. They claim that the money will be transferred back into your account together with the amount you are supposedly entitled to.
Confirmation through e-Banking – They try to make you confirm the refund through e-Banking. So, they guide you to enter a confirmation code in the “Amount” field. This code is actually the amount the scammer wants to get out of you.
How to protect yourself
Keep in mind – An official organisation will never ask you to carry out a virtual transaction to receive a subsidy or a tax refund.
Proceed with caution – Do not follow suspicious links you received on your email or mobile. Such links often ask you to enter codes or other personal details that may then be stolen or compromised.
Assure yourself – Do not execute transactions if you are not sure about them or if you are under third-party pressure/guidance, especially if they are asking you over the phone to log into your e-Banking.
Verify – Call the alleged business or agency using their publicly available contact details and ask if indeed you are entitled to a refund or subsidy.
Cancel the transaction if you have executed it – If you have carried out the transaction but you suspect you have fallen victim to fraud, cancel it immediately.
Contact us – Call our Call Centre on +30 2103260000 and, after listening to the recording, say “suspicion of fraud”. You will be immediately directed to an Alpha Bank employee.
