Provide account number for contest calls - is this safe?

For many contest calls, you should provide your account number in order to receive a prize. Here we explain in which cases this is safe and when you should hang up.

Contest Calls: Specify Account Number or Not?

• If you suddenly hear the phone ring and you receive the message about a win, you should be careful. Because fraudsters are often behind it and want to clear your account. In principle, you should therefore never give your account number to anyone on the phone.
• Often the fraudsters pretend that participation in the competition is subject to a fee and therefore they need the account number. However, you should never provide this, nor your personal data.
• If you are frequently bothered by competition calls, you can block the number on your mobile phone. This is also possible with landlines (for instructions).
• Tip: If you have already given the account number and find illegal debits, then revoke the direct debit and change the account number.

Specify account number in the competition - are there any exceptional cases?

• Only in very rare cases is it safe to provide the account number in a competition. This is always the case when you call a company yourself to win and it is a serious competition.
• Example: If your local radio station organizes a competition, you take part and win a certain amount of money live on the radio, you can probably enter the account number in this case.

On the next page, we will show you how you can protect yourself against competition fraudsters on the Internet.