Public prosecutor opens investigation into scammers posing as King Philippe and his chief of staff: “Victims were invited for a video call”

The victims would be deliberately selected based on their possible connections to the Royal Family, so that the calls appear credible. The scammers would pose as the king, his chief of staff, Vincent Houssiau and Major General Stéphane Dutron, head of the General Service Intelligence and Security (ADIV).

“In the first phase, the suspects requested financial support for the so-called liberation of Belgian journalists who were allegedly held hostage in Syria. Fortunately, most victims quickly realized the deception. In one case, a sum of money was actually transferred.”

Videogesprek

A new wave of scam attempts was detected in early January 2026, after several weeks without new reports. This time mainly Belgian business leaders are being approached. “A striking new element is that the victims are invited to a video call, in an attempt to convince them that it is actually the King. The images in this video call may have been generated by artificial intelligence.”

In addition, some business leaders receive fake invitations to a fictitious gala dinner of the King Baudouin Foundation, allegedly planned for February and April 2026, asking for contributions or sponsorship for an event that does not exist in reality.

The federal public prosecutor’s office is conducting an investigation with the Federal Computer Crime Unit (FCCU) and other specialized services of the federal police.