Belgium: The federal government has announced a comprehensive 29-point national action plan to combat online fraud, phishing and digital scams, bringing banks, telecommunications companies and online platforms together to strengthen cybersecurity and protect consumers.
Consumer Protection Minister Rob Beenders and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin will oversee the initiative, which aims to identify fraudulent activities earlier, prevent financial losses and improve action against organised cybercrime.
One of the key measures involves strengthening security for the country’s digital identification application, itsme, through an additional facial recognition verification layer. Authorities also plan to tighten safeguards against SIM-swap fraud, in which criminals unlawfully take control of victims’ mobile phone numbers.
The government will expand the Phish Nemo initiative, currently operated by the federal judicial police and the Limburg public prosecutor’s office, across the country. The project identifies fraudulent websites and places warning pages to alert potential victims.
Citizens will also be able to report suspicious websites, telephone numbers, messages and online accounts through a new reporting facility on the Safeonweb platform. Meanwhile, banks will exchange information about suspected fraudulent transactions through a secure system called TILDA.
The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) will coordinate information sharing with social media companies to accelerate the removal of fake advertisements, fraudulent profiles and scam messages. The telecommunications regulator BIPT will work with operators and trusted partners to block phone numbers associated with fraud.
Separately, the Justice Department is preparing an action plan that includes establishing a national anti-phishing unit to consolidate investigation-related information and help dismantle criminal networks.
Beenders said Belgium was the first European Union country to introduce such an extensive action plan. The government will assess its implementation every three months.
