The most common tricks.
- “Hi Mum, this is my new number” Someone pretends to be your child, grandchild or friend whose phone is broken. Shortly afterwards, there is an urgent bill to pay.
- Parcel and customs A text message reports a parcel with unpaid fees. The link leads to a fake website.
- Bank and account Your account is supposedly blocked, and you are asked to sign in through a link or give a code.
- Passing on a code Someone asks you to forward a code you just received. With it, they often take over your account.
How to spot them.
- New number, unknown sender Especially if a request follows right away.
- Time pressure “Today”, “right now”, “or it will be blocked”: pressure is meant to stop you thinking.
- Money, codes or data Real banks, authorities and parcel services never ask for passwords or codes by message.
- An unusual tone A different greeting, different words, no voice message possible: trust your instinct.
What you can do.
- Check through the usual channel Call the person on the number you know, or ask someone in the family.
- A family code word A word only you know. Anyone who doesn’t know it gets no money.
- Don’t tap anything Open your bank’s or parcel service’s website or app yourself instead of tapping a link.
- If it has happened Call your bank immediately, change affected passwords and report it to the police, which you can also do online.
Talk about it with your parents, grandparents and children. People who know the tricks fall for them less often.
How anynear helps.
There are no phone numbers in anynear. So knowing your number does not let anyone message you there. New contacts only join through a link that you share yourself. If someone still claims to be a new contact, check through the usual channel. Messenger without a phone number
Good to know
Germany’s consumer advice centres collect current scam messages and warn about them. A look there helps if you are unsure.