Though phishing often takes the shape of texts and e-mails, this time scammers are relying on “vishing”, a practice that consists in contacting people through the phone. Fraudsters pretend to be Guichet.lu agents and try to convince their targets to click on links received per SMS or mail, the platform says.

The aim is to collect authentication data or bank details.

“When calling by phone, fraudsters often try to create a false sense of urgency or panic in order to get you to click on the links you received by SMS or e-mail,” Guichet.lu explains on its website. Citizens should therefore remain wary of any suspicious links, requests that require fast action or sharing personal information or if they ask for bank details over the phone.

The Guichet.lu helpdesk “only contacts you by telephone to follow up a request you have made to the Helpdesk. The Helpdesk number is (+352) 247 82 000,” it reminds users, asking people who are acquainted with elderly persons to share this information with them too.

Phishing scams have been on the rise in Luxembourg, with fraudsters to collect sensitive data. Guichet.lu had signalled a similar phishing wave.

On the same day, Luxembourg’s financial sector watchdog CSSF concerning another type of scam, where fraudsters pretending to be police agents call victims and ask them to pay for bail for a relative, before picking the sums up at the victim’s home.