Federal government launches action plan to combat online fraud

On Thursday, the federal government is launching a national action plan with 29 measures to tackle online fraud and phishing. Consumer Protection minister Rob Beenders (Vooruit) announced the plan, which he and his colleague, Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR), are responsible for. Among other measures, the identification app itsme will get an additional layer of security using facial recognition.

The government is working with banks, telecom operators and online platforms to detect and stop fraud more quickly. "We are bringing all the relevant partners together and setting out who will take which steps. This will help us identify fraud sooner, prevent people from losing their savings and punish the criminal networks behind this type of scam," Beenders said. Quintin added that the government "will not give fraudsters a moment's peace".

To stop fraudsters, itsme will get extra security, and protection against phone numbers being taken over without permission ("SIM swaps") will be strengthened. The Phish Nemo project, run by the federal judicial police and the Limburg public prosecutor's office, tracks down fraudulent websites and places warning pages on them. It will be expanded nationwide.

The government also wants to identify fraud more quickly so it can intervene sooner. A new reporting form on Safeonweb will let members of the public report suspicious websites, phone numbers, messages, and accounts. Banks will also be able to information potential fraud through a new secure platform called TILDA.

To respond more quickly when fraud is detected, the government wants to strengthen cooperation with online platforms and telecom operators. The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) will serve as a central point of , gathering information online fraud and passing it on to the appropriate contacts at social media platforms. This will help ensure that fake adverts, fraudulent profiles and scam messages are taken offline more quickly. The telecoms regulator BIPT is also working with telecom operators and trusted partners to block or deactivate phone numbers used for fraud more quickly.

Finally, the Justice department is developing a separate action plan to strengthen the police response. A new national anti-phishing unit will pool information from different investigations to dismantle criminal networks more quickly. The authorities will also build a clearer picture of exactly how fraudsters operate.

According to Beenders, Belgium is the first country in the European Union to introduce such a comprehensive plan. It will be reviewed every three months.

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