Potential Hazards on Telephones: These numbers are becoming widely used
Rise in Travel-Related Spam Calls During July 2025 Vacation Season
A significant increase in spam calls has been reported during the July 2025 vacation season, with travel-related scams being the most prevalent. These scams often involve fake vacation giveaways, rental fraud, and unsolicited robocalls promoting discounted vacation packages [1][3].
The spam calls come in various forms, including "free" vacation scams, illegal robocalls about vacation deals, and vacation home rental scams. In a "free" vacation scam, recipients are tricked into paying upfront fees or taxes for a supposedly free vacation [1]. Illegally made robocalls about vacation deals use prerecorded messages to promote discounted packages, often from scammers who have no legal permission to call [1][3]. Vacation home rental scams involve scammers hijacking or creating fake rental listings online, taking deposits and leaving victims without a place to stay [1].
General robocalls and phone scams are also common, using deceptive tactics to trick recipients into paying for fake offers or revealing personal information [3]. Social media reports confirm a high volume of spam calls during this period, with many users complaining about persistent robocalls and spam texts, especially during weekday mornings [2][4][5].
While specific spam numbers are constantly changing to avoid blocking, users are advised to not respond or pay any fees when receiving unsolicited vacation offers. They should also avoid calls from unknown numbers claiming urgent vacation deals, block unknown numbers, sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry, and use call-blocking technologies on mobile or landline phones [3].
In Germany, unsolicited calls are illegal. However, scammers often circumvent the law by constantly changing their phone numbers. Some of the frequently used spam numbers in July 2025 include 0211 95586812, 0163 4564718, 040 855983157, 0211 95586813, 040 855983158, and 040 29996653. These numbers were involved in Sweepstakes, Consumer Protection, and insurance sales calls [1].
Spam calls reached a new peak in July 2025, with some callers pretending to represent well-known companies like Telekom or Ergo Insurance. The goal of these spam calls is to steal bank data or trick people into signing contracts under false pretenses [1]. Some callers even posed as employees of the consumer center, offering to delete personal data for free [1].
Stay vigilant and protect yourself by following the advice to avoid these travel-related scams [1][3].
- In the July 2025 vacation season, travel-related scams extended to general spam calls, as fraudsters exploited technology to promote bogus vacation offers and steal personal information.
- The finance sector was not immune to these scams, with scammers pretending to represent Telekom or Ergo Insurance to steal bank data. Lifestyle choices, namely vacation plans, became a gateway for intrusion into one's personal and financial life.
- Despite illegal robocalls and spam calls being reported in Germany, the problem spanned multiple business domains, including general-news, technology, and beyond, highlighting the need for proper safeguards against cybercrime.
