Febelfin launches board game to warn people about the risks of online fraud

Febelfin has introduced a board game called Hacker Hotline 2.0. It’s an interactive board game to make people aware of the dangers of online fraud in a playful way.

Febelfin, which is short for the Federation of the Belgian Financial Sector, is an organization that represents the interests of banks and other financial institutions. Part of its mission is to raise awareness about phishing, money mules, and other forms of digital fraud to the general public.

That’s the reason why the umbrella organization created Hacker Hotline 2.0. The game aims to teach people what forms of online fraud exist, how to recognize suspicious situations, and how to protect themselves through good cyber hygiene.

The board game is supported by practical teaching materials on online fraud and money mules, but unfortunately only in Dutch and French. The workshops are a mix of explanations, interactive assignments like phishing tests and password tests, quizzes, and discussions. They are available in a PowerPoint format and take up 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

Febelfin claims that a board game like Hacker Hotline 2.0 is absolutely necessary. Research conducted by the organization shows that approximately one in four young people doesn’t know what phishing is.

Among them, 23% say they would probably share their bank codes if asked to do so by email, text message, or other digital means, after carefully reviewing the request. 5% would share their codes without hesitation.

Almost half of the participants in the study (45%) say they don’t know what a money mule is. Lastly, one in three people sees additional security measures as an obstacle to online purchases.

“Febelfin continues to promote financial education and digital and financial inclusion, and this board game is a new step in that direction,” the organization says.

Hacker Hotline 2.0 isn’t the first game Febelfin has launched. In 2023, The Hacker Hotline, a Mobile Escape Room was introduced, designed to learn more about the techniques that fraudsters use to trap people and how to protect yourself against such fraud.

In total, 1,966 people from 95 different organizations and companies, spread across 71 towns and municipalities throughout Belgium, between 2023 and 2025, participated in the mobile escape room.