Fraud reports surge as scammers pose as helpdesks and tradesmen

The number of reported fraud cases in the Netherlands rose sharply in the first half of 2025, with helpdesk scams and misleading sales practices emerging as major concerns, the national Fraud Helpdesk said on Wednesday.

The organisation received 44,500 fraud reports between January and June, up from 29,826 in the same period last year.

Fake helpdesk calls were the most frequently reported type of scam. These involve fraudsters posing as IT support or bank staff to gain access to victims’ computers or personal information. The Fraud Helpdesk described this form of deception as a “clearly growing problem.”

Nearly 6,700 people lost money to scams in the first half of the year, while the total financial damage remained stable at €26.8 million.

One of the biggest increases was in reports about misleading sales practices, particularly involving rogue tradespeople.

The number of complaints in this category rose from just over 800 to nearly 2,400 in a year. These cases typically involve locksmiths, roofers or pest control services who charge excessive fees and often appear at the top of online search results.

“In many cases, there are no clear price agreements beforehand, and companies then demand large sums afterwards – sometimes even for work that hasn’t been done,” Fraud Helpdesk director Henriëtte Bongers told RTL Nieuws.

She called for tighter regulation and a certification scheme for tradespeople. “We shouldn’t wait to act until consumers have lost their money. This is exactly the kind of structural problem where clearer rules and better public information can make a real difference.”

The watchdog also highlighted a persistent trend involving fake police officers. On Wednesday, Rotterdam police arrested three men aged 20, 21 and 23 who allegedly posed as officers to steal from dozens of victims across the country, often targeting elderly people.