Internet fraud in Vysočina Region: over 1,000 cases in nine months
Cybercrime in the Vysočina Region increased by 22 per cent during the first nine months of the year. An unknown perpetrator defrauded one woman of over 300,000 crowns.
Cybercrime in Vysočina Region growing: 1,027 cases in nine months
The Czech Police on policie.gov.cz point out that internet fraud is commonplace in the Vysočina Region – this year's statistics clearly confirm this.
During the first nine months of this year, police in the Vysočina Region recorded a total of 1,027 criminal offences in the field of cybercrime. Compared with the same period last year, this represents an increase of 188 cases, which constitutes more than 22 per cent. Police officers managed to clarify 139 cases, with the rate of clarification exceeding thirteen per cent. A further 101 cases from previous years were subsequently clarified, bringing the overall rate of clarification above 23 per cent.
Fake identity on Instagram, loss of over 300,000 crowns
One of the most recent cases is being investigated by criminal investigators from the general crime unit of the Třebíč territorial department. An unknown perpetrator operating under a false identity defrauded a trusting woman of financial resources exceeding 300,000 crowns. The illegal activity took place from September 2023 until the end of October this year.
The perpetrator first contacted the woman via the social media platform Instagram, then moved the communication to Google Chat and used various email addresses. Under false pretexts – a difficult financial situation, hunger or holiday expenses – he compelled her on at least twelve occasions to send money. The woman made the payments from her bank account or through the financial service MoneyGram.
The situation escalated in January of this year, when the perpetrator began demanding further money. After the woman refused to pay, he resorted to extortion: he threatened to publish her personal photographs and photographs of her relatives on the internet. Out of fear of the threats, the woman sent him money again. Criminal investigators initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of the commission of the criminal offences of fraud and extortion and are searching for the perpetrator.
How fraudsters operate
Police describe the typical progression of these frauds: the perpetrator initiates contact through seemingly innocent communication, gradually builds trust, and only then requests money. The victims never know who they are actually communicating with, even though they may exchange intimate or personal photographs with the person in question.
Police warning
The Czech Police reiterate the following recommendations on how to protect yourself:
- Never send money to people you do not know personally – in all likelihood you will never see it again.
- Be cautious of offers of long-distance relationships, unexpected messages about opportunities to gain money, or announcements of foreign inheritances.
- If a new "friend" on a social network begins asking you for financial resources, end the conversation immediately.
- Do not allow yourself to be manipulated by time pressure.
- If someone claims that you have inherited property from abroad or won something, carefully verify the sources before taking any action.
If you have become a victim of a fraudster, contact the Czech Police as soon as possible.
Source: Google News CZ — Crime (cs)