Fake police officers call Slovaks: victims lost tens of thousands of euros
Police have issued an extraordinary warning against telephone frauds in which perpetrators pose as police officers and lure sensitive information or cash.
Police warn of wave of telephone frauds across Slovakia
Slovak police have issued an extraordinary warning against a widespread wave of telephone frauds in which perpetrators pose as members of the Police Force. According to topky.sk, law enforcement authorities have recorded dozens of such cases, and people in Slovakia have already lost tens of thousands of euros as a result.
Fraudsters contact people from various parts of the country and tell them they have become victims of a loan fraud. In cases investigated by police in Ružomberok, the perpetrators posed as criminal police officers and assured the callers that someone unknown had attempted to arrange a loan of €20,000 in their name.
"Subsequently, they asked them for an email address to which they sent materials with a photograph of the alleged perpetrator to make their story appear credible," police describe. In some cases, the fraudsters also demanded the installation of the Signal communication application.
The same scenario is also recorded in Poprad
Police recorded a similar procedure in Poprad. A fake police officer informs the victim by telephone that they have become a victim of a loan fraud and subsequently sends them an email with a document or alleged confirmation that is intended to create the impression of genuine official correspondence.
Police warn that fraudsters use the names of real police officers, the names of departments, forged documents and photographs. The aim is to put victims under pressure, provoke fear about savings and force them to reveal sensitive information, install an application or carry out financial operations according to the instructions of the caller.
What a real police officer will never ask
Police emphasise that a member of the Police Force will never request from citizens over the telephone:
- transfer of funds to a "safe" or "police" account,
- withdrawal of cash and its handing over to an unknown person,
- disclosure of login details, payment card number, PIN or authorisation code,
- installation of applications such as Signal or AnyDesk,
- sending photographs of personal documents or communication via unofficial channels.
How to behave during a suspicious call
If someone is approached by a caller with a similar story, police recommend ending the call immediately. Do not call back the number from which you were contacted, do not respond to sent emails and do not follow the caller's instructions. Verify the authenticity of any information independently through official contacts of the Police Force or by visiting a police unit in person.
If you suspect you are the target of fraud, contact police on the emergency number 158.
Source: Google News SK