“Last year, I moved from Brabant to Zoetermeer. I needed some things to furnish my new home, so I was browsing Marktplaats. That’s how I got in touch with someone offering a wireless speaker. I made an offer, and he accepted. He always replied to my messages straight away. Looking back, I think I may have missed a red flag there. Normally, I would never have agreed to his payment method. But I was in a rush — I still had a lot to sort out for my new place.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Updating my details…"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"“The seller emailed me: ‘Just send me your phone number, and I’ll message you to arrange the payment.’ I was supposed to transfer 5 cents to verify that the bank account was really mine. A little later, I received a WhatsApp message with a link. I clicked on it and ended up on what I thought was the ING website. There, I got a message saying I needed to update my details. I entered my card number, expiry date, and date of birth. At that point, I still had no idea anything was wrong.”
“After that, I went to the DIY store. I still needed a few things for the new house. In the meantime, I noticed some small amounts had been withdrawn from my account. But it didn’t immediately raise alarm bells — you spend more money than usual when you’re moving.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"A call from the fraud department"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"“As I was driving away from the DIY store, I got a call: ‘Sir, this is the ING fraud department.’ I had to pull over because I was so shocked. At first, I didn’t trust the call. What bank calls you on a Sunday afternoon? But the ING employee explained what had happened. ‘We’ve seen several transactions of €52.99 being withdrawn from your account in a short period, all going to a foreign account. Are you aware of this?’ Of course, I hadn’t made those transactions. ING immediately blocked my account to prevent any further withdrawals.”
“Thanks to the bank’s quick action, the damage was relatively limited. A few hundred euros were taken. It could have been much worse. Fortunately, I was reimbursed. I reported the incident to the police and informed Marktplaats. You often hear people say, ‘The police won’t do anything anyway.’ But every little bit helps. The police can piece things together and take stronger action against the perpetrators.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Scammers put you under pressure"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"“You know these things happen. You read about them. And still, you fall for it. My advice to others: think first, take your time, and don’t act too quickly. That was my downfall — being busy, in my case with a move — and scammers pick up on that. They exploit it and put extra pressure on you.”
“Has it changed how I view people? I’ve become more suspicious when buying and selling on online platforms. If I pick something up from a seller, I pay using a payment request. In my own Marktplaats ads, I now state that I only accept payments via Marktplaats itself or through a bank payment request. If someone insists on another method, the deal’s off. I also report it to Marktplaats. That way, they can check whether action needs to be taken.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How to Avoid Becoming a Phishing Victim"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"“Unfortunately, Coen was scammed via a phishing link,” says ING fraud expert Boudewijn van der Valk. “This can happen whether you’re buying or selling something. The other party pretends to want extra security and asks you to transfer a small amount — like 1 cent (or 5 cents, in Coen’s case) — via a payment link. That link leads to a fake banking environment. It looks real, but it’s a scam site where you’re asked to enter personal details. With that information, scammers can access your account and steal your money.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Boudewijn's advice"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"