Crime as a service: Phishing panel supplier arrested
The Federal Criminal Police of East Flanders, in collaboration with Europol, has arrested a man suspected of selling phishing panels to gangs in order to allow them to make many victims. The suspect was apprehended in the Netherlands and handed over to Belgium, where he was placed under arrest warrant by the investigating judge in Dendermonde.
Phishing investigation
The Federal Criminal Police of East Flanders, in collaboration with the East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office and under the direction of the investigating judge in Dendermonde, conducted a judicial investigation into a suspect who had specialised in the creation and sale of phishing panels. The individual sold these tools through several online channels, including Telegram, and is named in a series of ongoing investigations in several European countries.
In-depth investigations, carried out in close cooperation with Europol, showed that the suspect's phishing signs had indeed been used in several frauds in Belgium, the Netherlands and many other European countries. Clearly of an international and organized nature, these activities generated considerable illegal gains, mainly through payments in virtual currencies.
What is a phishing panel?
A phishing panel is a fraudulent digital platform used by a criminal to manage fake websites and messages. These platforms allow victims to be tricked with fake emails or text messages that look authentic and are supposed to come from banks, telecom operators, payment platforms or identification apps.
When victims respond to these messages, their personal data, codes or bank details are intercepted and used for fraud.
A major impact on victims
It appears that the phishing signs sold by the suspect were used in numerous cases and that they contributed to a multitude of facts, most of which had serious consequences for the victims. In addition to financial losses, they are often confronted with stress and uncertainty; They are also losing confidence in digital communication systems. The impact is not only individual: these frauds also undermine the general public's trust in digital services.
Search and arrest
As part of this investigation, a search was carried out on 26 January 2026 in the Netherlands, at the address of the alleged suspect – a 20-year-old man. During the investigation, the investigators seized several data carriers and cash for a total amount of about 28000 euros.
The person concerned was apprehended and handed over to Belgium on 16 April, where he was placed in pre-trial detention in the interests of the investigation.
Stay vigilant!
The public prosecutor's office and the police are urging constant vigilance:
- Banks, authorities and companies never ask for codes, passwords or bank details by email or SMS.
- Don't click on links in unsolicited messages or open suspicious attachments.
- Always check the sender and URL of the website.
- If in doubt, do not click on anything and contact the relevant organization via an official channel.
Suspicious messages can be reported to suspect@safeonweb.be. Reporting such incidents in a timely manner helps protect other potential victims.
