The scams that target newcomers in Germany
| Scam | How it looks | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fake landlord | Cheap flat, owner abroad, deposit before viewing | Never pay before viewing and signing |
| Fake police / bank call | "Your account is compromised, transfer to a safe account" | Hang up; call your bank on the number on your card |
| Parcel/toll SMS | "Your DHL parcel is held, pay €1.99" | Delete; carriers don't ask for payment by SMS link |
| Fake authority letter or email | "Ausländerbehörde: pay fee or be deported", "Finanzamt refund — enter card" | Authorities use your case number, write by post, and never ask for card or crypto payments |
| "Hi Mum/Dad" messenger | A new number asks for urgent money | Call the old number |
| Online shop fakes | Very low prices, prepayment only | Check the imprint (Impressum); pay by PayPal goods-and-services or credit card |
| Rundfunkbeitrag lookalikes | Private "GEZ registration services" charging fees | Registration at rundfunkbeitrag.de is free |
Reminders and debt collection — know the difference
- Mahnung (reminder) from a company or collection agency (Inkasso): check whether the claim is real. If it isn't, object in writing. Don't pay unknown claims "to make them go away".
- Mahnbescheid (court payment order): a yellow envelope from an Amtsgericht. This is serious — you have 2 weeks to file an objection (Widerspruch) using the enclosed form. If you don't, the creditor can enforce it.
- Abmahnung for file sharing: letters from law firms about torrent downloads are real and can cost hundreds of euros. Don't ignore them, and don't sign a cease-and-desist declaration without advice.
Where to get help
- Verbraucherzentrale in your state: low-cost advice on contracts, energy, insurance and scams (€0–30).
- Police (110) for fraud in progress. File reports at the online police station (Onlinewache) of your state.
- Your bank's 24/7 block line, or the 116 116 card-blocking number.