How many people were scammed in this wave of fake ads?

Police are investigating three separate cases, a Croatian citizen, a German citizen, and a citizen of North Macedonia were scammed.

What is the largest amount someone lost?

A Croatian citizen lost more than a thousand euros, while foreign nationals lost several hundred euros each.

What does the police advise before booking accommodation?

Check reviews, compare information on multiple sites, verify the credibility of the host, and carefully read the booking conditions.

What should you do if you suspect you are a victim of fraud?

Immediately notify the police by calling 192.

Local

Three Victims of Fake Apartments in Zadar County

L.M. · Prije 2h | 2 min

Police warn of a new wave of online accommodation scams during the summer season. Foreign tourists are among the victims.

Summary

Police are investigating three cases of online fraud with fake apartments in Zadar County.
A Croatian citizen paid more than a thousand euros for a non-existent apartment in Kožine.
German and Macedonian nationals were scammed in Vir and Puntamika for several hundred euros.
Police urge caution and verification of all details before booking accommodation online.

The summer season in Zadar County has once again activated scammers offering fake accommodation online. In three separate cases, the Zadar police are currently investigating situations where people, after paying for an apartment or a holiday home, discovered on site that the accommodation did not actually exist.

Thousand Euros for a Non-Existent Apartment in Kožine

The biggest financial loss was suffered by a 30-year-old Croatian citizen. On August 2, 2026, she rented an apartment in Kožine through a rental web platform. She paid a deposit of more than a thousand euros for the reservation. When she arrived at the location, she saw that the apartment from the ad was a fiction.

German and Macedonian Nationals Fall for Scams in Vir and Puntamika

Among the victims is a 50-year-old German citizen who found an ad for an apartment in Vir on a website. After following the instructions in the ad and transferring several hundred euros for the reservation, he realized at the address that it was a fake offer and that the apartment did not exist.

The third person to be scammed is a 45-year-old man from North Macedonia. Using an online booking service, he rented an apartment in Puntamika in Zadar. He paid several hundred euros and arrived at the destination on August 4, 2026, where he found that he too had fallen for the scam because the apartment did not exist.

Police Advise Caution

The Zadar Police Department warns citizens and tourists to be especially careful when booking accommodation online. They recommend checking reviews of the property and the owner before paying, comparing information on different websites, and, if possible, additionally verifying the authenticity of the ad and the owner through the relevant authorities.

They also advise checking the contact information of the host, asking additional questions before booking, and reading the booking conditions in detail, especially those regarding cancellation, refunds, and potential additional costs. If they suspect they are victims of fraud or another criminal offense, citizens should immediately contact the police at 192.