Vishing: This Could Be a Scam Call — End It Immediately

N26 will never contact you over the phone unless we have scheduled a call via “Messages from N26”. If you’re not expecting a call from us, hang up immediately!

Phishing attacks are becoming more common. Vishing, or voice phishing, is a type of scam that is growing. Scammers call or leave voice messages to trick you into giving them your personal information.

The term "vishing" combines 'voice' and 'phishing'. Scammers use phone calls or voice messages to get your money or personal information, like bank accounts, credit card numbers, or even to trick you into transferring money yourself.

Vishing uses social engineering tricks to play on your natural feelings of trust, fear, or the desire to help. Scammers try to make you feel anxious or scared so you’ll act fast and give them money or personal details. 

Scammers often pretend to be trusted people, like bank workers, tax officials, or insurance agents. They make their calls fit your personal situation. Watch out for:

• Compromised Bank Account: Claims your account is at risk, pressuring you to transfer money to a "safer" account or asking for login details. N26 will never ask you to authenticate or verify your data outside our secure communication. channels. N26 will also never ask you to move your money to a safer account.
• An offer too good to be true: Calls offering attractive loans, prizes, or investment opportunities.
• Tax scams: Impersonating tax authorities, threatening fabricated tax debts and penalties.
• Medical or Social Security fraud: Posing as representatives to steal benefits or cash, often targeting the elderly.

Preventing vishing is straightforward. Follow these steps:

• Never share or confirm your personal details over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from your bank. Legitimate callers will never ask for such information. If asked, hang up immediately and report the call to your bank.
• Do not answer calls from numbers you don’t know. Let it go to voicemail and assess calmly.
• Consider adding your number to a 'Do Not Call' register if available in your country, as cold calls received afterwards are more likely to be vishing.
• Do not respond to emails, texts, or social media messages asking for your phone number. This can be a preliminary step for vishing.

Look out for these red flags:

• You feel rushed, manipulated, or panicked.
• The caller asks for personal details like your address, bank account information, card numbers, or passwords. No reputable company will ask for this over the phone.
• The scammer pretends to be in a position of authority or trust, such as a bank manager or tax collector.
• If you're asked such questions unexpectedly, hang up immediately.

If you have shared personal information and suspect a vishing scam, act quickly:

• If possible, freeze any of your cards and change account passwords.
• Contact your bank as soon as possible for guidance.
• For N26 customers, contact our Customer Support team immediately via our support chat.
• Provide as much detail as possible about the call, including the phone number (with country code), language, accent, what was said, who they claimed to be, what they wanted, if they had any of your data, if transactions were requested, and what data was shared.

If you do not have access to your N26 mobile app or your N26 webapp login, you can also request to block your card or account by calling us at +44 2035 107126 or +49 303 6428 6881 (both lines in English).

At N26, protecting your finances is our top priority, offering convenient, digital banking without compromising on security. Our security features include biometric authentication, smartphone pairing, and 3D Secure technology. You also receive real-time push notifications for every transaction to stay aware of your account activity. For more tips, consult our online security guide (new tab).