Betrug in Deutschland — Anzeigen, Wiederherstellen & Schützen
How to report scams in Germany using Verbraucherzentrale, BKA, and the regional police Onlinewache. Plus the main scam patterns hitting German consumers in 2024-2025. (Page is in English with German official terms preserved.)
German Reporting Structure — Who Handles What
FEDERAL SYSTEMState Police (Landespolizei)
First stop for any scam — every state has Onlinewache. Generates an Anzeige (criminal complaint) and case number needed for bank claims.
polizei.de →BKA — Federal Cybercrime
Bundeskriminalamt handles serious cybercrime, organised fraud rings, cross-border cases. State police escalate cases here when needed.
BKA →BaFin — Financial Fraud
Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. Report unauthorised crypto exchanges, fake investment brokers, dodgy German banking apps.
BaFin →Verbraucherzentrale
Consumer-protection federation (NGO). Free advice, scam-pattern warnings, civil-law guidance. Excellent German-language resource.
verbraucherzentrale.de →Top Scams Targeting German Consumers
VZ & BKAEnkeltrick & Schockanrufe
Major elder scam“Grandchild trick” and “shock calls”. Caller impersonates a relative in distress or police claiming family member in jail/accident. Demands cash or jewellery handover.
Enkeltrick guide →Phishing & Smishing
Very commonSMS impersonating DHL, Hermes, Deutsche Post, Zollamt (customs), Sparkasse, ING, DKB. Designed to harvest banking credentials or card details.
Spot phishing →Crypto / Trading Scams
BaFin warningsFake trading platforms targeting German savers. BaFin maintains a public warning list. Often initial contact via LinkedIn or WhatsApp.
Investment scam guide →Romance Scams (Liebesbetrug)
GrowingDating apps, Facebook, Instagram. Often graduates to crypto investment fraud (pig butchering). Targets all age groups in Germany.
Liebesbetrug guide →Tech-Support / Microsoft Anrufe
Common“Microsoft Support” cold calls with thick accents claiming your computer is infected. Try to install AnyDesk or TeamViewer to drain bank accounts.
Tech-support scam →eBay Kleinanzeigen / Fakeshops
High volumeFake listings on Kleinanzeigen, fake online shops with lookalike-brand URLs (e.g. fake “Lidl” or “Aldi” deals). Goods never arrive.
Spot fake shops →German Scam Reporting — Step by Step
URGENTStep 1 — Call Your Bank
German banks have 24/7 fraud lines. SEPA transfers may be recallable within hours. Most banks (Sparkasse, ING, DKB, Commerzbank) have instant freeze in app.
How to dispute →Step 2 — Onlinewache
File an Anzeige with your state’s online police portal. Generates a Strafanzeige number needed for bank claims and any subsequent civil action.
Find Onlinewache →Step 3 — Verbraucherzentrale
Free consumer advice in German. Especially useful for civil-law angles (refund rights, contract disputes, consumer rights under BGB).
VZ website →Step 4 — BaFin If Financial
For investment scams, unauthorised brokers, or suspected unregulated financial service providers — BaFin handles complaints and maintains warning lists.
BaFin →German scam victim?
Don’t pay anyone offering “recovery” or “Geldrückholung” services — they are second-stage scams. Real recovery is free through your bank, your state’s Onlinewache, BaFin, and Verbraucherzentrale.