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Sparkasse Flags New Phishing Wave as WhatsApp Investment Scams Spread

Bogus pushTAN or update notices harvest logins, followed by spoofed calls that extract TANs.

Overview

  • Sparkasse reports a fresh surge of emails and SMS that mimic account updates or pushTAN maintenance and route customers to credential‑stealing sites.
  • Victims are often called afterward by criminals displaying real Sparkasse numbers, with pressure to provide approvals or TANs that enable transfers.
  • Consumer watchdogs recently logged a separate Sparkasse‑themed campaign referencing an S‑ID‑Check update, underscoring repeated, closely timed phishing waves.
  • Police and consumer groups also warn of fake bank profiles on social platforms that funnel people into WhatsApp groups, start with deposits around €250, simulate early gains, and steer funds to sham trading platforms.
  • Authorities advise deleting suspicious messages, changing passwords on another device, contacting the bank immediately, blocking access if data or TANs were shared, filing a police report, and reporting fraudulent profiles, noting many perpetrators operate abroad and recovery chances drop once money is moved.