Savings banks (Sparkassen) – fraud warnings & protection
Sparkassen customers are a frequent target of push-TAN fraud and fake “your savings bank” messages. Find warnings about affected institutions and concrete protection measures here.
Current warnings in this category
Other institutions
Common schemes
- Text saying “your push-TAN is expiring / must be reactivated”, linking to a fake savings-bank page.
- Call claiming an alleged chargeback can only be stopped with an immediate push-TAN approval.
- Fake emails in savings-bank design to “confirm your account” or accept “updated terms”.
How to protect yourself
- The real push-TAN app only asks for approval when YOU have started a transfer yourself.
- Open the app directly from your home screen – never via a link from a text or email.
- If in doubt, block access and contact your savings bank via its official number.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to regularly “reactivate” my push-TAN?
No. Requests by text or email to reactivate or renew push-TAN come from fraudsters. You only ever set it up yourself, inside the app.
The text looks like it's from my savings bank – is it real?
Sender and design are easily faked. Trust no number or link from the message – only the officially installed app.
I approved a push-TAN even though I didn't transfer anything.
Contact your savings bank immediately, have your access and card blocked, and report the incident. The faster you act, the better the chance of recovering money.