Since Saturday, 16 January, a scammer has been sending phishing messages on behalf of the Federal Public Service Finance. These text messages state that the judicial officers of Modero will proceed to an attachment if the outstanding balance is not immediately paid by the citizen.
We are aware of this attempt at scam and have already taken action.
Did you receive this text message? Do not pay the allegedly outstanding amount! You can also file a complaint yourseld with the police or contact the reporting center of the Federal Public Service Economy.
How do you recognize a scammer?
Scammers sometimes pose as judicial officers to quickly steal money from unsuspecting citizens.
Most scammers will suddenly contact you via email or text message. You will then be notified that you urgently need to pay an outstanding invoice. Such scammers also often suddenly threaten to attach your goods. In this way they home to make you pay in no time. This is a form of internet fraud or phishing. So, don’t pay!
Know that a real judicial officer will never demand immediate payment at your door. Neither cash nor via a payment app. He always hands you the necessary official documents and clear information about your payment term. Does he still demand immediate payment? Then you are confronted with a scammer. So, dont pay!
A handy step-by-step plan
Have you been contacted by a judicial officer, but you are unsure about his legitimacy? Then follow this step-by-step plan:
- Is there a threat of attachment or legal action at the first contact? Do they request immediate payment on the spot? These are red flags. A judicial officer will never suddenly take action against you. Before there can be a possible attachment, a legitimate judicial officer has already sent several letters, the judicial officer has already come to your place and official documents were left behand.
- Consult the overview of already known scammersposing as judicial officer.
- Consult the overview of all judicial officers on the website of the National Chamber of Judicial Officers (NKGB-CNHJ).
Can’t find the name here? Then it’s a scammer.
Can you find the name here? Then we still recommend that you thoroughly review all data. Does the mobile number not start with +32 or 04? Then it is a foreign number and it is a scam. Is the email extension different from the email address that you can find online on the original website of the known judicial officer? Even then it is a scam.
Official emailaddress (visible on the website): info@modero.be or findings@modero.be
Official extension: modero.be (everything after @)Attempted scam:
Put the extension in front, such as modero.be@mail.com.
Change the extension, such as info@modero.gerechtsdeurwaarder.be.
Change the domain, such as info@modero.com. - Always carefully take a look at the account number. A Belgian judicial officer will never ask you to make a payment to a foreign bank account number. A legitimate bank account number therefore always starts with ‘BE’.
- A judicial officer will never ask you to pay by clicking on a link in a text message. Certainly not when that links with .com, for example.
Where you contacted by a scammer? Then file a complaint with the police as soon as possible. You can also contact the reporting center of the Federal Public Service Economy.
Do you have any questions? Not sure about the sender of a text message or email? Please contact us.