Railway Scams: Fake Promotions and Dangerous Data Extraction on Social Media

Belgian railways, the NMBS, has issued a warning about false messages circulating on social media. Scammers are using fake reports to obtain personal data from victims through false promises of promotions and gift cards. At least three messages on Facebook claim that NMBS is offering a gift card for just two euros to travelers who complete a questionnaire, allowing them to travel for free throughout Belgium for a year. However, these reports are false and scammers are seeking banking information from their victims.

The NMBS advises travelers not to respond to these messages and only rely on communication through official channels. They also urge travelers not to share personal information or bank details with such offers. Bart Crols, spokesperson for the NMBS, warns travelers to be cautious of unexpected or irrelevant communication and offers that seem unlikely or unusual. The railway company will never request personal information on an unsecured webpage.

The NMBS has filed a complaint with authorities and social media platforms, but the misleading messages continue to circulate. Travelers are encouraged to be vigilant and report any suspicious messages to the appropriate authorities. Similarly, Dutch Railways have also become targets of such scams with false reports about promotions being circulated on social media.