Belgian gang impersonates royal family in high-profile fraud

• Belgian investigators uncovered a gang impersonating the royal family to defraud businesspeople and foreign figures.
• The group used emails, phone calls, WhatsApp, and AI-generated videos to trick victims.

Belgian investigators revealed Saturday that a criminal gang impersonated members of the Belgian royal family over the past year in an attempt to defraud prominent foreign figures and businesspeople.

Federal prosecutors said the group used emails, phone calls, and AI-generated video clips to carry out the fraud.

Impersonation Tactics

The gang, which began operating in early 2025, reportedly used telephone calls and WhatsApp messages to pose as King Philippe or senior royal officials. Prosecutors said victims were selected based on their potential connections to the royal family.

“Fortunately, most victims quickly recognized the scam,” prosecutors said in a statement.

In one case, however, the gang managed to convince a target to transfer money.

Domestic and International Targets

In addition to foreign businesspeople, the gang also attempted to target Belgian families close to the royal household. Some businesspeople received invitations for video meetings with individuals posing as the King, and prosecutors noted that AI may have generated the images used in these calls.

Some victims were also invited to fictitious dinner events, where they were asked to pay for sponsorship of the non-existent gatherings.

Ongoing Investigation

Federal prosecutors confirmed that the investigation into the fraud is ongoing, with specialized teams from the Belgian Federal Police assisting in uncovering the scope of the scam.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the suspects.