Reporting a scam in Germany

First hour, in order

Call your bank. Call your bank, and use the Germany-wide card blocking line 116 116 to stop cards.
Stop paying. No fee, tax or "release payment" ever unlocks money that does not exist.
Screenshot everything before you delete an app, block a number or close an account.
Then report using the routes below. Reporting is slower than the bank call, and less urgent — but it is what produces enforcement.

Germany reports fraud to the police of the relevant federal state, most easily through that state’s Online-Wache. The Verbraucherzentrale network is the best source of current warnings in German.

Where to report

Polizei — Online-Wache (your state force)

Open the reporting page

Also worth using

Verbraucherzentrale

Consumer advice centres; they publish current scam warnings.

BaFin

Check whether a financial provider is authorised, and see BaFin's warning list.

BSI Bürger-CERT

Federal information security office, for phishing and malware.

What not to do

Do not pay anyone to recover your money. No legitimate service charges an up-front fee to get stolen funds back, and people who have just been scammed are the primary market for recovery scams.

Do not use contact details the scammer gave you — not the phone number, not the "support" chat, not a link in a message. Look the agency up yourself.

Do not delete the evidence. Apps, chats, wallet addresses and transaction IDs are what make a report actionable.

Do not send one more payment. This is where most of the largest losses happen.

Sources

Agency names, URLs and phone numbers were checked on 2026-09-06. Government contact details do change — if something here is wrong, please tell us.

Onlinewachen der Polizei. Polizei (Germany). Accessed 2026-09-06.

Verbraucherzentrale. Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband. Accessed 2026-09-06.