Fake police officers calling across Slovakia: risk of losing tens of thousands of euros
Slovak police warn of a wave of telephone scams in which perpetrators pose as criminal investigators. Dozens of cases have been recorded including in Ružomberok and Prešov.
Scammers pose as police officers, targeting bank details and money
Slovak police are warning of a widespread wave of telephone scams spreading across Slovak territory. As reported by zive.aktuality.sk, perpetrators pose as members of the Police Force and tell victims they have become targets of a loan fraud.
Police have already recorded dozens of cases. Scammers made telephone calls this week directly to the editorial office of the portal. Most commonly they pose as police officers from Ružomberok or from Prešov.
How the scam works
The call begins with the caller introducing themselves as a criminal police officer. The officer tells the victim that an unknown person has attempted to obtain a loan in their name — in cases from Ružomberok, the amount was 20,000 euros. The scammer provides a specific name and police unit, creating the impression of a legitimate investigation.
Subsequently, the scammer requests the caller's email address and sends false police documents, sometimes even with a photo of the alleged perpetrator. These materials serve solely to increase credibility. In some cases, scammers attempt to move further communication to the Signal application.
A similar course of events has been recorded in Prešov: the fake police officer informs the victim by telephone about a loan scam and immediately sends them an email with alleged confirmation.
Warning signs and police recommendations
Police emphasise that their officers never request money transfers, provision of bank details, or installation of applications by telephone. Merely stating the name of an actual police officer or sending a document does not guarantee that you are communicating with a genuine member of the Police Force.
A clear warning sign is time pressure — scammers claim that money must be protected immediately or that immediate cooperation is necessary to apprehend the perpetrator. People in Slovakia have already lost tens of thousands of euros as a result of similar scams.
Police recommend:
- End the call immediately if someone tells you they are investigating a suspicious loan taken out in your name.
- Do not follow any instructions from the caller and do not send money.
- Do not provide personal or bank details and do not open attachments or click on links from suspicious emails.
- Verify the contact by using official police telephone numbers or by visiting the nearest police station in person.
If you have already provided the scammer with bank details or made a payment, contact your bank immediately. Your bank can block your account, payment card, or halt suspicious transactions.
Source: Google News SK — Crime (sk)