The Split-Dalmatia Police Department has received a series of reports of cyber fraud. Citizens have fallen for fake investments, fraudulent bank links, and emotional family SMS messages.
In recent days, a series of sophisticated scams have been reported across Dalmatia, leaving citizens with significant financial losses. Fraudsters employed various methods, from false promises of cryptocurrency investments to emotional SMS messages in which they posed as family members in distress.
One of the most severe cases involves an 80-year-old man who, since 2024, believed he was investing in cryptocurrencies. He granted unknown individuals remote access to his bank accounts via apps, convinced he was dealing with authorized brokers. Only when he realized that money was disappearing from his account without any returns did he report the fraud to the police. He was defrauded of approximately €7,000.
Another victim is a citizen born in 2003. He communicated by phone with an unknown person who promised to refund money he had lost in an earlier scam. After providing his bank details, €250 was debited from his account.
Particularly concerning is the case of an elderly woman who fell for an emotional SMS scam. An unknown person posed as her daughter, who lives and works abroad. The message claimed it was a new number because her old phone was not working, and that she urgently needed money to cover living expenses. Convinced she was helping her daughter, the woman transferred over €4,000 to an unknown account.
Among the reported cases is a 23-year-old who lost nearly €1,800. After clicking on a fake OTP bank link and updating his personal and banking details, money was withdrawn from his account.
A criminal investigation is underway, and the police are working intensively to identify the perpetrators. The Split-Dalmatia Police Department once again urges citizens to exercise extreme caution. Before any investment, they advise seeking impartial financial advice and rejecting suspicious offers.
Special caution is needed when receiving SMS messages in which individuals pose as family members. Always verify the authenticity of such requests. Additionally, never share personal and banking details, PINs, authorization codes, or CVC numbers with unknown individuals. If you suspect fraud, contact your bank immediately and notify the police at 192.
