Phone Scams Target Seniors in Romania — ING Launches SAFE Call & SAFE Button

6 in 10 people over 50 targeted by phone scams. Romania reports 72,000 online fraud cases. See how ING's SAFE Call and SAFE Button protect customers.

Phone scams and online fraud are increasingly targeting Romania’s most vulnerable groups. A study by the Romanian Institute for Active Aging found that six out of ten people over 50 have been targeted by attackers, highlighting a sharp rise in social-engineering tactics that specifically prey on seniors. These scams range from fake bank calls to sophisticated phishing attempts designed to steal money and personal data.

Law enforcement is taking notice: police are currently investigating around 72,000 cases of online fraud. Investigators say many of the attacks are coordinated from call centers based outside Romania, notably in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. These organized operations use convincing scripts and spoofed caller IDs to trick bank customers into revealing one-time codes, passwords, or transferring funds.

Banks are responding with new security tools. ING has introduced two dedicated applications—SAFE Call and SAFE Button—to protect bank customers from phone-based fraud. SAFE Call helps verify incoming calls that claim to be from the bank, while SAFE Button allows customers to confirm the authenticity of transactions directly from the bank’s secure app. Together, these tools add an extra layer of protection by preventing criminals from intercepting or misusing sensitive banking information.

Practical fraud-prevention tips for seniors and all customers include: never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords with anyone who calls or messages; verify suspicious calls by hanging up and calling the bank’s official number; enable two-factor authentication and app-based confirmations; and report any suspicious activity to your bank and the police immediately. Awareness and quick verification dramatically reduce the risk of financial loss.

As phone scams evolve, combining community awareness with technology is essential. Seniors should be encouraged to attend local information sessions and to use bank security features like SAFE Call and SAFE Button. For Romanian bank customers, these apps represent a practical step toward safer banking by blocking fraudulent calls and validating transactions in real time. Staying informed, cautious, and using available security tools will help protect against the growing wave of online fraud targeting over-50s in Romania.

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