Fake email from TCM Belgium? How to recognize phishing and fraud

Phishing in the name of TCM Belgium: Why an algorithm can never replace a real employee!

In an increasingly digital world, it seems like everything can be done at the touch of a button. Unfortunately, fraudsters have found that button too. Recently, we have seen a rise in phishing where our employees’ names are being misused to send out fake payment reminders.

At TCM Belgium — the number 1 benchmarked debt collection partner — we refuse to be reduced to an automated email stream. Our strength lies in the human touch, and that is exactly what a scammer behind a phishing email can never replicate.

1.  Phishing relies on threats; TCM relies on dialogue

Phishing emails are often cold, coercive, and driven by fear, leaving no room for a response. “Pay now, or face severe sanctions.” At TCM, we don’t believe in that approach. Our employees are mediators. We seek solutions through dialogue.

A real TCM employee will always be willing to listen to your story and work with you to find a viable way forward. The sender of a phishing message wants only one thing: for you to panic and click an unsafe link as quickly as possible.

2. We are not anonymous: From the phone to your front door

While cybercriminals hide behind anonymous IP addresses on the other side of the world, TCM Belgium chooses a personal approach. We are not a faceless organization.

We are directly reachable by phone for a real conversation and, if the situation requires it, we will visit you in person. Our presence on the Belgian streets is intended to de-escalate the situation and restore communication. A scammer remains anonymous behind a screen; a TCM representative speaks to you personally and can always provide identification.

3. International presence: A global network vs. international phishing gangs

Phishing gangs often operate from abroad to stay out of the reach of the law. At TCM Belgium, we also work internationally—collecting debts in over 150 countries—but that is where the comparison ends. While a fraudster seeks out borders to hide in anonymity, we use our global network specifically to guarantee local proximity.

As a member of the TCM Group network, we offer a unique advantage: a debtor is always contacted in their own language by a representative from their own country, with the option to pay securely within that country. Did you receive a fake phishing email in broken Dutch or English, urgently demanding a quick transfer to an obscure, foreign bank account? Then you know immediately that this is the polar opposite of the secure, local, and transparent methods of TCM Belgium.

How to recognize phishing and verify a real TCM employee

Even though fraudsters misuse our names in their phishing campaigns, they always give themselves away in the details:

• The email address: We only send emails from an address ending in @tcm.be. Always check the actual sender behind the name.

• The language: We communicate professionally and personally, without the aggressive time pressure so typical of phishing.

• The human touch: Doubting whether an email is real? Do not click on anything, but call us directly on our known number found on the website. You will be connected with a real colleague who actually knows the details of your file.