An unknown perpetrator convinced a 62-year-old from Ivanec to install a remote access app on his phone, then drained his bank account. Police are searching for the scammer.
The Varaždin Police Department has received a report of yet another sophisticated scam in which a 62-year-old man from the Ivanec area lost more than €20,000. The fraudster lured him with a false promise of cryptocurrency payout, then used a remote access app to empty his bank account.
According to a police report released on Monday, August 3, 2026, everything began on Tuesday, July 28. That day, an unknown person contacted the 62-year-old by phone and presented an enticing story: there were allegedly more than €10,000 in cryptocurrencies registered in his name that needed to be converted so the money could be paid into his bank account.
Believing the promise of unexpected earnings, the man followed the caller's detailed instructions. He registered on a provided website and installed a remote access app on his mobile device, effectively handing over the keys to his digital wallet.
Once granted access to the device, the scammer quickly went into action. He made several unauthorized transactions from the victim's bank account, with total material damage estimated at over €20,000. As if that weren't enough, the 62-year-old was also asked for an additional payment.
It was this request for more money that raised the man's suspicions. Only then did he realize he had fallen into a trap and reported the case to the police in Ivanec. Police officers are continuing their criminal investigation to identify the perpetrator and shed light on all the circumstances of this fraud.
