Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) recorded around 96,400 cases of account and payment card fraud in 2025, up five percent from the previous year. Many incidents originate abroad, and the solve rate remains low. Consumer protection agencies saw 50 percent more complaints.
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Frankfurt released Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik (PKS) data showing a sharp rise in payment fraud in Germany for 2025. Cases involving accounts and payment cards totaled around 96,400, a five percent increase from 2024. The number has been rising since 2021, when it stood at 65,000.
Criminals use stolen cards or illegally obtained data such as account details, passwords, and security codes, often via phishing. The solve rate in 2025 was just over one fifth of cases.
The BKA also logged 118,000 foreign-originated cases in the PKS-Ausland category, up 23 percent from the prior year. These crimes were likely committed abroad but had effects partly in Germany. Consumer protection groups reported 50 percent more complaints in 2025.
