Customs Beware of phishing mails and forged tax assessments from the customs administration

Customs urgently warns of fraud

Citizens keep reporting to customs that they have received requests for payment that are said to have come from customs authorities. Sometimes these letters threaten criminal prosecution, imprisonment or confiscation of parcels. Extremely high tax payments are also often demanded and the prospect of the remainder being waived if a smaller amount is paid immediately. Such notices are always fakes!

Customs authorities have a strong interest in ensuring that no one is harmed by such fraudulent counterfeits. We therefore ask every recipient who has even the slightest suspicion that "something might be wrong" with a notification from a customs authority to contact customs. Help to uncover such counterfeits and send suspicious ones Documents electronically, by fax or letter to the contact point of the central information with your e-mail address, your fax number or your postal address. You will receive feedback on how best to behave.

The customs administration also recommends contacting the police and assessing the chances of success. Please note that the investigative approaches are reduced the more time elapses between receipt of the letter and the filing of a criminal complaint.

What characteristics can you use to identify phishing emails and fake tax assessments?

How do customs handle my mail?

The customs authorities are obliged to hear you before issuing a tax assessment. Therefore, no tax assessments or payment requests will be issued without first asking you to provide the necessary information, information or documents.

For postal and courier shipments from non-EU countries, there are several ways of treatment by the customs authorities:

What has to be considered in the case of enforcement measures?

Employees at the enforcement offices of the main customs offices will only appear to attempt enforcement at the debtors' premises if they have previously been dunned without success and have subsequently not reacted to a notice of enforcement. The law enforcement officers always identify themselves with their badge or ID card. If in doubt, ask for this. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of an official ID card, ask the main customs office of the alleged customs officer. If the person reacts aggressively to this announcement, they are not a customs officer or officer.

How can you contact customs?

For inquiries, customs has set up a central information point that you can reach as follows:

Phone: 0351 44834-510 (for private individuals)0351 44834-520 (for companies)E-Mail: info.privat@zoll.de (for private individuals)info.gewerblich@zoll.de (for companies)

Fax: 0351 44834-590

Postal address: General Customs Directorate Central Information PO Box 10 07 6101077 Dresden

Please note that emails with attachments must not exceed a file size of 5 megabytes.

Alternatively, you are welcome to contact your main customs office or customs office and, if you wish, clarify your questions in a personal conversation. You can find the contact details of the customs office responsible for your request in the office search or in any telephone directory.

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