Mathieu Michel, Belgian liberal deputy and former Secretary of State for Digitalization, was recently the victim of an unexpected digital fraud that highlighted the vulnerabilities of the Chamber of Representatives’ computer systems. A simple phishing attempt managed to divert his salary, raising questions about the security of Belgian political institutions.
The 3 key points not to miss
- A fraudulent email led to the diversion of Mathieu Michel’s salary.
- The incident was caused by human error within the Chamber’s services.
- Increased cybersecurity measures have been implemented following this case.
A revealing phishing incident
Deputy Mathieu Michel discovered the diversion of his parliamentary allowance after an individual sent a fraudulent email to the Chamber of Representatives. This message requested a change in bank details for his salary payment. Surprisingly, the email address used did not even contain his name, which did not prevent the request from being executed.
A delayed but corrective response
The Chamber of Representatives confirmed the incident, attributing the error to human failure. Although the error was quickly corrected and the salary was paid to Mathieu Michel, the case took time to become public. A complaint was filed with the authorities on December 2, 2025.
The Chamber’s officials also specified that the amount was transferred to a bank account belonging to a third party, leaving doubts about the perpetrators of this scam.
Enhanced security measures
In response to criticism, the Belgian administration reacted by blocking the email address used for the fraud and revising its internal protocols. Among the announced measures are new cybersecurity training sessions, intended for both deputies and administrative staff.
These initiatives aim to prevent similar future incidents and improve the protection of the institution’s computer systems.
Context: cybersecurity within Belgian public institutions
This is not the first time the digital security of Belgian public institutions has been questioned. Belgium, like many other countries, faces a rise in cyberattacks, sometimes targeting sensitive organizations. Phishing incidents are particularly concerning as they often exploit human errors. The need to strengthen security systems and raise staff awareness of these threats has become a priority for the Belgian government.
