How was the 77-year-old woman from Krk scammed?

She registered on a fake cryptocurrency trading site, and then a fake financial advisor persuaded her to make three payments totaling €7,000.

What advice does the police give to citizens to avoid similar scams?

They advise being suspicious of get-rich-quick offers, not paying money upfront for profit withdrawals, verifying the legitimacy of platforms through HANFA, and never sharing personal and banking details with unknown individuals.

What is the total financial loss in this case?

The total financial loss amounts to €7,000, which includes the initial deposit, an additional €4,500, and €2,500 paid for alleged processing fees.

Where should one report suspected online fraud?

Suspected fraud should be reported immediately to the nearest police station, and all further payments should be stopped.

Croatia

Retiree (77) from Krk Loses €7,000 in Scam

A.H. · Prije 19h | 2 min

After registering on an automated trading site, an unknown man posed as a financial advisor and persuaded her to make additional payments. Police warn citizens about suspicious get-rich-quick offers.

Summary

A 77-year-old woman from Krk reported to the police that she was defrauded of €7,000.
Scammers promised her profits from automated cryptocurrency trading and artificial intelligence.
Police warn that legitimate financial institutions never ask for upfront payments to release profits.
Citizens are advised to verify platforms through HANFA's registers and not share banking details with strangers.

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Police officers from the Krk Police Station are conducting a criminal investigation into a fraud in which a 77-year-old Croatian citizen lost €7,000. The case came to light after the woman reported that unknown perpetrators had promised her substantial profits from cryptocurrency trading with the help of artificial intelligence, only to leave her without her invested money and the purported gains.

According to a statement from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Department, the victim registered on a website in June 2026 that offered automated cryptocurrency trading and AI-based investment services. After making an initial deposit, she was contacted by an unknown man who introduced himself as a financial advisor.

Three Payments and False Promises

At the urging of the fake advisor, the woman paid an additional €4,500, convinced she would secure significantly higher profits and bonuses. In early July, when she requested a withdrawal of her supposed earnings, the unknown man persuaded her that she needed to pay another €2,500 for alleged processing fees before the payout could be made. The victim made that payment as well, but neither the profits nor her invested funds were ever returned.

Police Warn Citizens

In light of this incident, the Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Department has once again issued a series of warnings to the public. "Be suspicious of offers promising quick and large profits: Offers that guarantee high returns with minimal risk, especially those related to cryptocurrencies and AI trading, are typically scams," the statement reads.

The police advise citizens never to pay additional amounts for the "release of profits." "Legitimate financial institutions never ask for upfront fees, taxes, or processing costs to release your money," the police department emphasizes.

Before making any investment, citizens should verify the legitimacy of the platform, for example through HANFA's registers, to ensure the company is licensed to provide financial services in Croatia. Additionally, they should never share personal and banking details, including card numbers and CVV/CVC codes, with unknown individuals online or over the phone.

"If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, immediately stop all payments and report the incident to your nearest police station," the police urge.