Danger! Fraudulent tax office SMS: How to protect yourself now!

Danger! Fraudulent tax office SMS: How to protect yourself now!

A current phishing wave ensures concern in German-speaking countries. These days, numerous citizens receive fake SMS messages that are allegedly coming from the Ministry of Finance. The news calls on the recipients to immediately transfer debt amounts due to "multiple reminders". In a particularly alarming message, a threat with attachment is given on Friday, April 4, 2025. Anyone who receives the SMS should open a link to "pay their debts immediately". But this link does not lead to the official Ministry of Finance, but to a fraudulent side that is disguised as real. The required amount amounts to 243.18 euros. The Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) has already confirmed that these requests come from criminals and not of the authority itself, as the Gailtal-journal

The increasing occurrence of such phishing attacks is not just a local problem. According to the Federal Office of Information Technology (BSI), cyber security reports are continuously published in Germany. These reports, which are updated monthly and quarterly, offer extensive statistics and analyzes on cyber threats and vulnerabilities that occur in the federal administration. Such information not only supports the sensitization of the public, but also the development of suitable security measures. The reports also include definitions of statistical concepts and technical terms to facilitate the interpretation of the data, which is of great importance in the context of these current threats.

What to do with suspicious news?

experts advise citizens to exercise caution if they receive messages from unknown senders, especially if financial claims are made. It is advisable not to follow links in SMS or emails directly and instead enter the official website of the company in question or the institution directly in the browser. In addition, you should contact the authority directly in the event of uncertainties to verify information. The BMF has expressly clarified that such requests do not come from them and calls on the public to remain suspicious in such cases.

phishing attacks like this are not only dangerous because they can cause financial damage, but also because they are an ever increasing problem in the digital world. The BSI regularly documents these incidents and thus covers the bandwidth of the challenges that both companies and private individuals face. In addition to phishing, spam emails and other forms of cyber attacks are also topic in the BSI reports that contribute to clarification.

It is all the more important that society is informed about such threats. The current reports of the BSI provide valuable knowledge and are intended to help improve the security situation on the Internet. The official compilation of key figures and statistics from the field of cyber security offers extensive insights that are important for everyone-whether in the company context or in everyday life. Further information can be found in the management reports and statistics of the BSI, which are available online at bsi.de .