How to Report Cybercrime in Germany (and Get Your Money Back)
Call 110, file online via your state's Onlinewache, and call your bank now. If the payment was unauthorised, German law (Section 675u BGB) forces the bank to refund you by the next business day.
Quick answer: Call 110, file a criminal complaint online via your state's Onlinewache (portal.onlinewache.polizei.de), and call your bank now. If the payment was unauthorised, German law (Section 675u BGB) forces the bank to refund you by the next business day.
What to do in 3 steps
- Call your bank. Block the card (the central blocking line is 116 116) and request a recall (Rückruf) of the transfer before the money is withdrawn.
- File a criminal complaint (Strafanzeige). Free, online via your Bundesland's Onlinewache, or in person at any police station — jurisdiction doesn't matter for filing.
- Escalate a refused refund. Take it to your bank's ombudsman (Schlichtungsstelle) or to BaFin on 0800 2 100 500.
How recovery actually works
Germany splits sharply: unauthorised payments carry a strong statutory refund right (your liability is capped at €50, and falls away entirely if the bank didn't apply strong authentication) — unless the bank proves you acted with gross negligence, which is the usual battleground. Authorised push-payment scams have no blanket reimbursement today. A new EU Payment Services Regulation will add bank-impersonation refunds and IBAN-name checks, but it is not yet in force, so don't rely on it.
What to have ready
- Your details and the recipient's IBAN and name
- Transaction amounts, dates, times and reference IDs
- Screenshots and email/PDF exports of the scam messages and any fake website
- A record of when and how you notified your bank
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report cybercrime in Germany? Emergency 110, or your state's Onlinewache at portal.onlinewache.polizei.de — filing a Strafanzeige is free.
Will the bank refund me? Yes for unauthorised payments (next business day, Section 675u BGB), unless gross negligence is proven; rarely for scams you authorised.
Who helps if the bank refuses? The banking ombudsman or BaFin (0800 2 100 500).
Sources
- Onlinewachen der Polizeien der Länder
- Section 675u BGB — liability for unauthorised payments
- BKA — Bundeslagebild Cybercrime 2024
- BaFin — complaints and dispute resolution
For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.