Telephone fraud is becoming increasingly aggressive for many people in Germany. No longer limited to anonymous voice messages or blatant prize scams, the latest calls can appear remarkably credible at first glance. This is where the danger lies; when the caller already knows your name, address, or even old banking details, they probably aim to instill trust rather than provide assistance.
Spike in Telephone Fraud Reports
According to a recent press release from Clever Dialer, a staggering 626,555 cases of telephone fraud were reported in June 2026. This marks a 19.5% increase compared to the previous month. Additionally, the so-called spam pressure increased as well. On average, each user reported 5.67 unwanted calls. Most commonly, criminals impersonated consumer protection agencies, data protection officers, bank employees, or energy suppliers. Their goal was almost always the same: to confirm personal information, gather sensitive data, or pressure victims into acting quickly.
Interestingly, many reports indicate that the callers already knew personal details. One affected individual cited a Düsseldorf number, saying, “Unfortunately, they knew my full name, date of birth, and my address from twelve years ago.” They then attempted to obtain the IBAN through a supposed data verification process. At such moments, the conversation should be terminated immediately. Legitimate banks, authorities, or energy providers do not require spontaneous confirmation of complete bank or personal data over the phone.
Changing Numbers to Bypass Blocks
A notable spike was again observed in June from a Düsseldorf number block with the area code 0211. From the block +4921195588XXX, Clever Dialer reported 49,540 calls made from 38 different phone numbers. Other alarming blocks came from Dornhan and Mönchengladbach. This tactic, often referred to as “Number Cycling”, involves changing the last digits of the phone number to quickly replace blocked numbers, allowing the campaign to remain undetected longer.
Known Fraudulent Numbers
| Rank | Country | Phone Number | Location | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 040 655801583 | Hamburg | Constant calls – Unreliable |
| 2 | Germany | 040 299961730 | Hamburg | Spam – Constant calls |
| 3 | Germany | 0211 95589346 | Düsseldorf | Spam – Phishing |
| 4 | Germany | 0211 95588724 | Düsseldorf | Spam – Cost trap |
| 5 | Germany | 0211 95589348 | Düsseldorf | Constant calls – Unreliable |
| 6 | Germany | 0211 95588733 | Düsseldorf | Constant calls – Advertising |
| 7 | Germany | 0211 95588727 | Düsseldorf | Spam – Unreliable |
| 8 | Germany | 0211 95589292 | Düsseldorf | Constant calls – Unreliable |
| 9 | Germany | 0211 95588725 | Düsseldorf | Spam – Phishing |
| 10 | United Kingdom | +44 161 564 7042 | United Kingdom | Spam – Contest |
Source: Clever Dialer, Period: June 2026, Spam Call Trend: +20%
The methods vary, but they typically follow a similar pattern. Sometimes the scam revolves around a supposed subscription for a contest that would cost hundreds of euros otherwise. Other times, they may ask for a meter number. In some instances, the callers pose as bank employees, claiming there have been foreign hacking attempts. One victim recounted that the caller knew their name, address, birth date, and account number, offering a “one-time chance” to stop fraudulent calls in the future. If pressured during such a conversation to confirm data or respond with “yes,” it is advisable to hang up immediately.
Familiar Information Does Not Indicate Credibility
The fact that criminals can mention personal data does not mean they are genuinely affiliated with a bank, authority, or provider. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) cautions against this type of telephone fraud known as spoofing. This method involves criminals posing as legitimate institutions either over the phone or digitally to extract sensitive information or set up further attacks.
For your protection, never disclose your IBAN, meter number, contracts, or one-time codes over the phone. If uncertain, you should hang up and contact the institution using an official number you have researched. The Federal Network Agency also accepts complaints about unsolicited calls and misuse of phone numbers. Additionally, the more detailed information victims can document regarding the time, number, conversation content, and possible demands, the better they can assess suspicious numbers.
Sources: Clever Dialer, Federal Office for Information Security, Federal Network Agency
