The federal government is launching a national action plan of 29 measures designed to combat online fraud. Minister for Consumer Protection Rob Beenders (Flemish socialist Vooruit) and Minister for the Interior Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal MR) are joining forces with banks, telecoms operators, online platforms and the police to this end. As part of this, identity authentication app itsme will be given extra security, and banks will alert one another to fraudulent accounts and transactions.
According to figures from the government and the banking sector, over 11,000 cases of phishing were reported in 2025, 30 per cent more than the year. Fraudsters made off with a total of around 93 million euros. The problem is getting worse year on year.
Federal Minister for Consumer Protection Rob Beenders had already announced he intended to step up the fight against online fraud. This has already led to concrete measures, such as the banking plan introduced in July, which includes a lower standard limit for bank transfers.
Beenders is now stepping up efforts alongside Minister for the Interior Bernard Quintin. Through the ‘National Anti-Online Fraud Plan’, they aim to strengthen cooperation between the police, telecoms companies, government departments and online platforms.
Itsme verifies your face and ‘Phish Nemo’ is expanding
The government’s primary aim is to prevent people from falling victim to online fraud. That is why identity authentication app itsme is being given an extra layer of security in the form of facial verification.
“For certain activities, the user’s face will be compared with the photograph on their Belgian identity card,” says Beenders. “This will make it more difficult for fraudsters to take over an itsme account and confirm payments or registrations in someone else’s name.”
There’s also a solution for people who are less familiar with online banking. “The aim is that, by appointment, you will be able to visit a bank branch, where you can carry out banking transactions with assistance. This would cost a maximum of 5 euros per month,” explains Beenders.
Protection against illegal ‘SIM swaps’ also needs to be improved. This happens when fraudsters link a victim’s phone number to another SIM card. This allows the fraudster to receive the victim’s calls and text messages, including codes used to confirm payments. Ways of strengthening this protection are still being investigated.
One measure that is already being rolled out is the ‘Phish Nemo’ project. This was launched in 2022 by the Federal Judicial Police and the Limburg Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“The software detects fraudulent websites and displays a warning page in front of them. This alerts visitors before they fall victim,” says Beenders. Since its launch, it is estimated to have prevented more than 100,000 potential victims. This system is now being rolled out across the whole of Belgium.
New reporting form, improved information sharing between banks and taking fraud offline
The government also aims to detect fraud more quickly by improving the sharing of information. To this end, a new reporting form will be introduced on Safeonweb, where members of the public can report suspicious websites, telephone numbers, messages and accounts. The Belgian Centre for Cybersecurity (CCB) collects and verifies these reports and, where necessary, notifies the relevant authorities so that they can take action.
Banks will also be able to exchange information more quickly amongst themselves. “At present, if an account is closed due to fraud, the fraudster can easily open an account elsewhere,” says Beenders. A new secure platform, TILDA, is designed to make that more difficult. Banks can use it to information suspicious accounts and fraudsters, so that other banks can carry out additional checks on suspicious transfers or when opening an account.
The minister reassures customers who are concerned their privacy as a result of this data exchange. “We will ensure that this is legally sound,” he emphasises.
The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium will also report fake adverts, fraudulent profiles and scam messages to the platforms. This will enable them to take action more quickly and take fraudulent accounts or content offline. The government is also asking telecoms operators to block fraudulent telephone numbers more quickly.
Tracking down perpetrators more effectively and providing better support for victims
If fraudsters do end up creating victims, those victims must receive better support. That is why training programmes are being introduced for police officers and bank staff. This will teach them to support and guide victims of fraud in a more ‘empathetic’ manner.
In addition, the government also aims to track down and prosecute perpetrators more effectively, with the help of the ‘national anti-phishing unit’. This unit collates information from various investigations to uncover links between fraud cases and criminal networks more quickly. The methods and money flows of fraudsters will also be investigated more thoroughly. International cooperation, including via Europol, is intended to further support these efforts.
According to Beenders, Belgium is now the “first country in the European Union to have such a comprehensive plan against online fraud”.
Cooperation between the various agencies and sectors is crucial in this regard, the minister emphasises. “Phishing is an organised criminal activity carried out by professional organisations. Only by working together in a coordinated manner can we tackle it even more effectively.”
The ministers and partners involved will review the progress of the action plan’s implementation every quarter. “This plan is not a static document that we draw up once and then file away. Fraudsters are constantly adapting their methods. Our approach must therefore evolve alongside them,” concludes Beenders.
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