Croatia’s national police warned on Thursday of a growing number of scams in which fraudsters pose as financial advisers or cryptocurrency brokers to trick victims into handing over banking details or transferring money.
Police said unknown individuals contact victims by phone or messaging applications, falsely claiming they can help recover allegedly lost funds or pay out “forgotten earnings” from cryptocurrency investments.
The scammers typically present themselves as intermediaries, brokers, crypto investment experts or representatives of financial institutions in order to persuade victims to transfer money or share access to their online banking accounts, the police said.
Authorities said the fraud often begins with unsolicited calls or messages informing recipients they are entitled to a payment such as a refund, profit, inheritance or funds from a past investment.
Fraudsters then create a sense of urgency, pressuring victims to quickly pay fees, taxes or processing costs, or to provide sensitive information including online banking login credentials, one-time security codes, PIN numbers, card details and CVV codes. In some cases, victims are asked to install applications or share their screens during calls, allowing scammers to access financial accounts.
Police advised citizens not to transfer money in order to receive payments, noting that legitimate institutions do not request such fees. They also urged people never to share banking credentials, PIN codes, card information or photos of identification documents with unknown individuals.
Authorities said anyone who suspects they have been targeted by a scam should immediately contact their bank to block cards and accounts and report the incident to police, while preserving evidence such as messages, emails, phone numbers and transaction records.