Belgian law enforcement has moved against a phishing operation, with the stolen funds allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency. The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on organized financial crime rings operating across Belgium and the Netherlands.

How the phishing gang operated

The criminal group relied on a technique known as “vishing,” short for voice phishing. Instead of sketchy emails, they called people on the phone and pretended to be bank officials or police officers.

Their preferred targets were elderly individuals in Belgium. In some cases, the group allegedly went beyond phone calls entirely, sending members to victims’ homes in person to collect bank cards or other sensitive materials while posing as officials.

The operation was centered in Rotterdam and various other Dutch cities, though its victims were primarily located in Belgium.

A coordinated European takedown

Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, began coordinating the investigation in November 2022, holding eight coordination meetings before the operation reached its climax in December 2024. When authorities finally moved, they did so simultaneously across both countries. Eight individuals were arrested, four in Belgium and four in the Netherlands. Law enforcement conducted 17 searches, seizing electronic devices, luxury goods, and cash.

Europol provided analytical support throughout the investigation. The total financial losses attributed to the group are estimated at several million euros.

Phishing is surging across Belgium

Belgium has seen an alarming rise in phishing-related crimes. Over 3.6 million phishing incidents were reported in the first quarter of 2026 alone, a staggering figure for a country of roughly 11.5 million people.

A separate phishing ring operating in East Flanders was dismantled in June 2026, resulting in three arrests and over €100,000 defrauded from victims. That operation was smaller in scale but used similar techniques.