Promised €10,000 in Crypto, Left with Over €20,000 Less

Varaždin police reported on Monday, August 3, 2026, that they received a report from a 62-year-old man from the Ivanec area who fell victim to a sophisticated phone scam. Believing he would receive over €10,000 in cryptocurrency, the victim ended up losing more than €20,000 from his bank account.

The Phone Call and App Installation

According to the police report, it all started on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, when an unknown person called the 62-year-old. During the call, the caller claimed that over €10,000 in cryptocurrency was held in the victim's name and that a conversion was needed to transfer the funds to his bank account.

Convinced by the claims, the victim followed the instructions provided. He registered on a website and downloaded an app that allows remote access onto his mobile device. By doing so, he effectively handed control of his phone over to the unknown perpetrator.

A Series of Unauthorized Transactions and a Request for More Money

Once access was gained, the scammer made multiple unauthorized transactions from the 62-year-old's bank account. The total damage exceeds €20,000. As if that weren't enough, the victim was subsequently asked for an additional payment.

That final request prompted the victim to realize he had been trapped. He immediately reported the case to the police in Ivanec. A criminal investigation is underway to identify the perpetrator, and the material damage is currently estimated at over €20,000.

How to Protect Yourself

While the specific circumstances of this case are under police investigation, it serves as a serious warning about the increasingly prevalent cryptocurrency-related scams. Key precautions include avoiding the installation of remote access software at the request of unknown individuals and keeping your banking information strictly to yourself, especially when communicating with unverified contacts.