They Paid for Apartments in Vir, Kožino, and Puntamika, Then Realized They Don't Exist
Zadar police investigate three scams involving fake accommodation ads, with victims from Germany, North Macedonia, and Croatia.
Zadar police investigate three scams involving fake accommodation ads, with victims from Germany, North Macedonia, and Croatia.
The Zadar Police Department has received three reports of fraud with nearly identical scenarios: victims found and paid for apartment or holiday home rentals through online platforms, only to arrive at the address and discover that the advertised accommodation does not exist at all.
The cases were reported in the past few days and relate to locations in Vir, Kožino, and the Puntamika area of Zadar. Police officers are determining all the circumstances of the incidents, and the police have also issued a warning to citizens and tourists.
The first case was reported by a 50-year-old German citizen. On a website, he found an ad for an apartment rental in Vir and, following the instructions in the ad, paid a reservation fee of several hundred euros. When he arrived at the specified address, he realized he had been scammed.
The second victim is a 30-year-old Croatian citizen. On August 2, 2026, she found accommodation in the Kožino area through a rental platform and paid a deposit of more than a thousand euros. She also discovered upon arrival that the apartment does not exist.
The third victim is a 45-year-old citizen of North Macedonia. He booked an apartment in Puntamika through an online accommodation reservation service and paid several hundred euros. He arrived at the address on August 4, 2026, and found that the advertised accommodation was non-existent.
Following the reports, the Zadar Police Department warned citizens and tourists to be cautious about which ads and websites they use to find accommodation and to check whether there are user reviews for a particular property.
"If possible, we advise citizens and tourists to conduct more detailed checks through competent institutions before paying any money, to ensure that the property is indeed being rented out and that the person or agency advertising the rental is actually authorized to do so," the police said.
They also recommend checking the contact details of the landlord or property, asking additional questions before booking, and carefully reading the booking conditions, especially cancellation policies, refund policies, and additional fees. If they have been victims of a crime or suspect fraud, citizens should immediately notify the police at 192.
