Police will now make direct home visits to victims of online fraud
Victims of digital fraud across the Netherlands will now receive direct visits from police officers, following a national rollout of a strategy that began as a pilot in Oost-Nederland in 2022. The approach aims to boost the chances of catching suspects quickly and provide immediate support to victims—many of whom lose tens of thousands of euros or valuable jewelry with deep emotional significance, according to AD.
In traditional crimes such as burglaries, police are often dispatched to the scene immediately to secure evidence. Victims of online scams, however, are frequently told to visit a police station or file a report online, even when the financial losses are enormous. Two police officers found this approach unacceptable and developed a new response strategy.
“People often lose all trust in the internet after falling victim to digital fraud,” officer Remko Leeneman, who helped launch the initiative, told AD. “I sometimes compare it to someone being mugged in a dark alley. You wouldn’t tell them to walk through that same alley to go file a report at the police station. No—you help them, because they’ve been through something terrible.”
Leeneman and fellow officer Sander Hoed started the new method three years ago. They argue that victims of online bank fraud and impersonation scams suffer immense psychological and emotional damage—often more severe than the trauma of a home burglary.
“The impact is huge,” Hoed told AD. “Sometimes even worse than a break-in, as shown by research. That’s largely due to shame. People talk openly at birthday parties about a burglary—‘a thief broke in, what could I do?’ But victims of scams often feel like they did something stupid by handing over their bank cards.”
Hoed emphasized that this shame is misplaced. “These people have been robbed, plain and simple. The perpetrators are incredibly cunning.”
Many fraudsters impersonate bank employees under the guise of preventing theft, while actually stealing victims’ savings by convincing them to hand over debit cards and PINs, or online banking credentials. Others pose as police detectives, claiming jewelry must be collected for safekeeping due to burglaries in the neighborhood. By the time victims realize the deception, the criminals have already fled with the goods.
Starting today, police across the country will respond directly to these types of cases. While serious incidents like accidents or murders still take top priority, digital fraud cases will now also trigger immediate in-person follow-ups if victims request it.
“The first priority is helping victims,” Hoed told AD. “They can file a report from their home if they want. But it also helps us catch suspects faster. Sometimes we find traces in the house.”
One example involved a victim who offered a glass of water to a fake bank employee just before handing over her debit card. The suspect drank from the glass, leaving behind DNA that matched a profile in the police database. That led to the case being solved.
Quicker police visits have also helped recover stolen money. In one case, officers learned that a stolen bank card was being used at an ATM. Two colleagues were sent to the location, where they saw suspects fleeing. The suspects were ultimately apprehended.
Still, success is not guaranteed. “Sometimes the money really is gone,” Leeneman told AD. “That’s frustrating. But at least we’re in the victim’s home and can explain the next steps they can take.”
