Fraudsters using micro payment request system Tikkie, or other online payment platforms such as banking apps, could soon be facing six years in prison, public broadcaster NOS reports.

At the moment people using fast payment apps to con people can get between one and four years in jail, depending on the size of the fraud. This will now be upped to six, in line with credit card fraud. Crypto currency fraud will also be included in the new legislation.

The new draft legislation comes in the wake of warnings from payment traffic organisation Betaalvereniging that the number of victims falling for this type of fraud is on the up.

Phishing messages are increasingly sent via SMS or Whatsapp by fraudsters pretending to be a friend in need and asking for a transfer of money using fake websites.