Fake FinanzOnline messages: recognise the warning signs

Our November Facebook post warned about a scam beginning with a supposed need to renew a FinanzOnline ID. Austria’s finance ministry also reported fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp messages using this pretext.

An official-looking sender and urgent wording do not prove that a message is genuine. Do not open suspicious links or disclose passwords or banking details. Access FinanzOnline through an official address you have already verified.

Another warning sign is an unexpected caller asking you to install software or allow remote access. If you have already done so, police guidance recommends disconnecting the device from the internet. Contact your bank if finances may be affected. Seek further help through verified contact details, rather than the number supplied in the suspicious message.

Sources and background: original Facebook post; BMF: Warnung vor betrügerischen SMS- und WhatsApp-Nachrichten, 7 November 2025; Bundeskriminalamt: Widerrechtlicher Zugriff mittels Fernzugriff.