Belgium Launches Major Campaign to Combat Online Investment Fraud
Belgians lost at least 15 million euros to online investment fraud in the first half of 2025, according to financial regulator FSMA. With losses rising, Belgium’s Cybersecurity Centre (CCB) and its partners have launched a major awareness campaign, reports 24brussels.
Fraudsters are increasingly targeting individuals with unsolicited, seemingly legitimate offers of quick returns through various channels such as phone calls, emails, social media, and WhatsApp. The scams generally begin with a small investment of around 250 euros but can quickly escalate, with victims losing an average of 37,777 euros this year.
“Artificial intelligence makes these scams harder to spot, as texts and pitches look more polished,” said CCB director Miguel De Bruycker. He noted that some criminals have been known to approach victims a second time, posing as experts who promise to recover stolen funds.
The newly launched campaign features “Bill,” a fictional character who invests in a fictitious platform. The campaign will primarily focus on two high-risk demographics: individuals aged 40 to 70, and young adults. Approximately 1 million euros is being allocated for advertising, aiming to reach 40 percent of the population.
As part of the initiative, tips will be provided to educate the public on how to identify potential scams. Recommendations include verifying whether investment providers are licensed, avoiding impulsive decisions, and treating requests for cryptocurrency or foreign payments as red flags.
FSMA chair Jean-Paul Servais emphasized the implementation of new measures to combat fraud, including a system that directs users visiting fraudulent websites to warning pages. Nearly 25,000 individuals have already been alerted about potential scams. Servais also highlighted the enhanced collaboration between FSMA and law enforcement agencies to tackle this growing issue.