Online Scams & Fraud in Germany

March 28, 2023

Germany has made it illegal to scam people with penalties that include fines and jail time of up to 10 years. However, this has not deterred scammers from continuing with their acts with Germans losing over 3.1 billion to scammers.

The government has responded by having  Internet Wache (Internet Watch) which can be found in most states. Additionally, there are consumer protection centers found throughout the country that help consumers deal with scams. 

Read on to find out everything you need to know about scams, including how much money was lost to scammers and where you can report a scam in Germany.

Scam Statistics in Germany

The key statistics on online fraud in Germany, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.

  2018 2019 2020 2021
Population 82.79 million 83.1 million 83 Million  83  million
Internet Penetration 93% 86% 95% 94%
# of Scams 89,000 271,864 320,232 249,254
Scams / 1,000 1 3.3 3.8 3
Money Lost €71.4 million € 2.6 billion € 3.1 billion € 3.4 billion
Money Lost / Capita €0.80  € 31,29 €37.14 € 40.98
Money Lost / Report €802.25 € 9,563  €9,696 € 13,669.65

The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending availability.

Where Can I Report a Scam in Germany?

Below are some of the places where people can report scams in Germany:

How to Report a Scam in Germany

Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.

  • Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
  • Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
  • Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
  • Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams. 

Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.

Scam Victim Support in Germany

You also have access to a wide variety of non-governmental victim/survivor support organizations. These services are provided without charge and in complete trust. They can also suggest specialized attorneys or therapists for you. Here are some of them;

  • Opferhilfe Berlin e.V.- As the Victim aid Berlin, e.V., they offer free & confidential services for victims of fraud including scams.
  • Weißer Ring e.V.- online counseling or nationwide person on-site and can be reached through phone call at 116 006.

How to Check for a Scam in Germany

Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well. They include;

Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities

Popular Scams in Germany

Rental Scams Affecting Hundreds of People

In recent months, many newcomers in Berlin have lost money after a popular accommodation provider went under. Co-living Service GmbH & Co. KG, popularly known as Co-liCo, seems to have gone under, leaving hundreds of would-be tenants stranded and staring at substantial financial losses.

Co-liCo was listed as  “trusted” and “verified” on the popular HousingAnywhere platform. Even though HousingAnywhere promised to refund payments made through its platforms, customers still lost huge amounts of money on deposits that were paid through Co-liCo’s Commerzbank account.

Rental scams are common in major cities throughout Germany, with scammers frequently claiming that landlords are unavailable to show you the apartment because they are out of town. Others impersonate popular listings on trustworthy platforms, but the payments are made to different platforms.

The best way to avoid rental scams in Germany is to pay for apartments you can see and verify. Before paying, ensure the keys actually work and other amenities are actually working.

Scam News From Germany

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As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu

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