How can you recognise a fake email or a fake site?

Sometimes scammers send fake emails or letters under the name of Waternet. They may also create a fake website that resembles the Waternet website. In these emails or on these websites they may ask that you transfer money to their account number. We call this phishing. Check out how you can distinguish genuine Waternet emails from fake ones.

How can you spot a fake mail?

1. Check the account number

Criminals often ask you to transfer money to a bank account number that is not ours. To a foreign bank account number, for example. Waternet has a Dutch bank account number, which always starts with NL.

Check the Waternet bank account numbers

2. Visit Mijn Waternet

Are you not sure if an email is really from Waternet? Check Mijn Waternet first to see if the information in the message is correct.

3. Check the sender

Does the sender's email address NOT end in @waternet.nl? Then that email is definitely not from us. Does the email address end in @waternet.nl? Then chances are high that the email does come from us. Although this is not necessarily the case. For example, scammers may use 'spoofing' to use a sender's email address that ends in @waternet.nl. Always keep an eye out, even if the sender is @waternet.nl.

4. Check how you are addressed

A letter or email from Waternet usually starts by addressing you with 'Beste' (Dutch for 'Dear'), followed by your surname. Is the way it addresses you not very specific (e.g. 'Dear Sir/Madam' or 'Dear customer')? Then be careful!

5. Check the text

Fake emails often contain an urgent request to take action. For example, they may tell you that if you do not pay immediately, a collection agency will pay a visit. Sometimes you may even be asked to send back personal information. Waternet will never email, send a letter to, text or call you to ask for your login codes or passwords.

6. Check the attachment(s)

Is there a file attached to an email for a bill or reminder? Check whether it is a PDF file. We always send our documents as PDF files.

7. Check the layout and use of language

Nowadays, fake emails are no longer always full of spelling and language mistakes. In addition, the images and logos used by criminals are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the real thing. But be sure to take a critical look. For example, compare the potentially fake email with a previous email sent by us. Or compare the logo in the email to our logo at the top of this website.

Have you received a fake email?

Have you received a fake email? Remove it from your mailbox immediately. Or mark the email as spam in your email program.

Have you already transferred money? Contact your bank as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Waternet cannot help you get your money back. File a report with the police as quickly as possible.

Report fake emails to Waternet

Do you suspect that you have received a fake email under our name? You can report this via our social media channels.

Fake website

Recently it became known that criminals are sending out a fake email that is very similar to our own real emails. The fake emails contain a link to a website that looks a lot like ours. On this fake website, you are asked to pay directly via iDEAL. Do not pay this bill! Your payment will be credited to the account of criminals.

This is an example of a fake website

How can you recognise that this site is a fake?

In the address bar of your browser, you will see that the URL of the website does not start with https://www.waternet.nl, but with https://energie-factuur.site. Real Waternet websites always start with https://www.waternet.nl or https://mijn.waternet.nl.
Most links on the page do not work. For example, the links in the menu at the top of the page, and in the footer at the bottom of the page.

Cookies