Tielt – A convent in Tielt has lost tens of thousands of euros in an online scam that has targeted at least seven religious institutions in recent weeks. Authorities have issued warnings for religious communities to enhance their vigilance against such fraudulent activities, reports 24brussels.
According to VRT News, the series of scams began two weeks ago when the convent reported fraudulent activities to the police at the end of July 2025. The scheme initiated with a phone call to a nun from someone posing as a bank employee, followed by a second call the next day from another individual claiming to represent the same bank.
During the second call, the scammers instructed the nuns to install software on their computer, granting the criminals remote access to the convent’s systems. Subsequently, the fraudsters made online purchases and transferred money from the convent’s accounts into their own. Similar incidents have been reported in convents located in Oudenaarde and Wetteren, where substantial sums have been stolen.
“During the call, they asked for all the convent community’s bank card information. This allowed the perpetrators to withdraw money from the account,”
stated Luc Verbeure of the Tielt police.
What methods are scammers using to target Belgium’s convents and the Elderly?
The police have indicated that scammers appear to be intentionally targeting religious communities, often home to elderly individuals who may have considerable savings. Authorities have reported that the scam displays a level of premeditation, utilizing deceptive phone calls and remote desktop access to mislead victims. Investigations remain active, with law enforcement urging all vulnerable demographics and religious entities to exercise caution, particularly advising against sharing bank details over the phone or installing unverified software.
Police recommend that nuns and monks disconnect from suspicious calls to mitigate the risk of similar fraudulent activities. This warning follows incidents where scammers successfully gained remote access to the convents’ computers for financial thefts. Officials emphasize the need for heightened vigilance to safeguard against further breaches.
In a related development, an 18-year-old man was apprehended in Antwerp due to the sharp instincts of a local jeweler. The suspect had expressed interest in a luxury Breitling watch priced at €9,800. When he returned for the item the following day, he claimed to have initiated the payment.
The jeweler grew wary after discovering that the funds originated from a monastery account in Wetteren, one of the affected convents. He contacted law enforcement and managed to keep the suspect engaged until officers could arrive to make an arrest. Investigators continue to probe potential links between this individual and the recent scams.
How are scammers using social engineering to target Belgium’s elderly?
In 2022, a group of young men posed as bank employees to deceive elderly individuals into surrendering their bank cards and PINs. This operation resulted in losses exceeding €200,000 through unauthorized withdrawals and online purchases.
Subsequently, in late 2024, Belgian and Dutch authorities apprehended members of an international phishing ring, primarily active in Belgium, utilizing analogous tactics to exploit elderly victims via phone and internet scams.
