How did the scam in Karlovac unfold?

A 78-year-old woman from Karlovac was called by a man posing as a doctor, who said her daughter-in-law had broken her leg in three places and that she needed to pay for urgent surgery. A woman was crying in the background, and shortly after, an unknown man came to the victim's address and took the money.

How much money was stolen?

The victim handed over several thousand euros to the fraudster. The exact amount has not been disclosed by the police.

What does the police advise citizens to do?

The police warn that official institutions never ask for money for treatment over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately, verify the information with your family, and notify the police at 192.

Who are the most common targets of such scams?

The most common targets are elderly people, and the police appeal to their families to educate them and regularly warn them about these types of fraud.

Croatia

Woman (78) from Karlovac Hands Over Thousands of Euros to Fake Doctor

B.G. · Prije 3h | 2 min

Police warn citizens, especially the elderly, about increasingly frequent phone scams in which fraudsters exploit concern for family members and create a sense of panic.

Summary

A 78-year-old woman from Karlovac was scammed and handed over thousands of euros to a fake doctor.
The fraudster claimed her daughter-in-law needed urgent leg surgery to avoid amputation.
An unknown man came to the victim's home in Karlovac to collect the money.
Police are investigating and urge citizens to be cautious and report suspicious calls to 192.

Another sophisticated phone scam has shaken Karlovac. The victim is a 78-year-old retiree who, believing she was saving her daughter-in-law's leg, handed over thousands of euros to an unknown man at her doorstep.

Doctor from a hidden number and sobs on the line

According to the Karlovac Police Department, a criminal investigation was launched after a report of fraud was filed at the Karlovac Police Station on Thursday, August 6, 2026. It all began the day before, on Wednesday, August 5, when an unknown man called the 78-year-old woman from a hidden mobile number and introduced himself as a doctor.

During the call, he told her a dramatic story: her daughter-in-law had been in a serious accident and broken her leg in three places. She urgently needed an expensive operation to save her leg. To make the story more convincing, a woman soon came on the line, sobbing and speaking with difficulty, giving the impression that it was the injured daughter-in-law in shock.

Money handed over at the doorstep

The fake doctor insisted that the operation had to be paid for immediately. Shortly after the call, an unknown man arrived at the woman's home address, and she handed him thousands of euros. Only later did she realize she had fallen for the scam and reported the case to the police, who are now intensively searching for the perpetrators.

Police appeal: "Official bodies never ask for money over the phone"

The police have once again issued a strong warning to citizens, with particular emphasis on the elderly, who are the most common targets of such crimes. They stress that fraudsters deliberately create panic and exploit concern for loved ones to force victims into quick and thoughtless decisions.

"Official bodies never ask citizens over the phone for money for treatment, operations, or other costs," the police say, advising citizens to hang up immediately if they receive such a call. Before handing over any money, it is crucial to verify the information directly with family members.

The police especially appeal to family members who care for elderly people to warn them about such scam attempts and regularly remind them to be cautious. Any suspicious call should be reported immediately to 192.