Be careful, scam! Volksbanks warn of large-scale phishing emails

Be careful, scam! Volksbanks warn of large-scale phishing emails

The consumer advice center urgently warns against a current scam that is being spread in the name of Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken (VR). Criminals send fraudulent emails asking recipients to renew the “VR-Secure App”. These emails provide a supposed link to update the app, setting an artificial deadline of May 30 to preserve supposed “security features.” What is noticeable is an impersonal salutation such as “Dear Customer”, a dubious sender address and a suspicious link or button that could lead to a fake website. The counterfeiters use the original VR logo, which reinforces the impression of authenticity.

The cooperative financial group of the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken includes a total of 672 banks in Germany and employs around 136,900 people. These banks manage total assets of 1,208 billion euros and 17.6 million members have one vote in the representative assembly. In such a large system, it is particularly important to handle personal information carefully and keep an eye on your own digital security. The consumer advice center recommends ignoring phishing emails and moving them to the spam folder. Customers should always use the banking app or their bank's official website when receiving suspicious messages, as reputable banks never provide updates via email.

Important identifying features of phishing emails

According to the information from vr.de, the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbank and the Federal Association of Volksbanks and Raiffeisenbanks (BVR) never ask their customers for sensitive information such as PIN or account number by email or SMS. In addition, emails or SMS do not contain any links to online banking. Requests for test or return transfers are also sure signs of attempted fraud. The phishing messages, which are usually sent millions of times, aim to lure people to fake or malicious websites.

Phishing pages can appear deceptively real and often look like real bank websites or contain other supposedly interesting content. Fraudsters often obtain recipients' email addresses and cell phone numbers through special search engines or third-party providers. It is therefore advisable to contact the bank immediately if you click on suspicious links and, if necessary, block your online banking.

It is important to be aware of these scams and protect your data. Attentive behavior and skepticism when faced with unexpected communications can help avoid financial damage.