Refund "scam spreads across Slovakia: victims robbed twice
Internet fraudsters target people who have already been robbed once, promising them a return of their losses. The National Bank of Slovakia warns against this double fraud.
Fake "hackers" and lawyers promise return of stolen money
Techbyte.sk has drawn attention to a new type of internet fraud spreading across Slovakia that directly targets victims of previous cryptocurrency or investment scams. The attacker contacts the injured party and claims that the lost money has been traced — and that there is a way to recover it.
The National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) explicitly warns against these practices. Fraudsters pose as "ethical hackers", lawyers, employees of recovery companies or representatives of the police or other authorities. They claim to have discovered a cryptocurrency wallet or bank account where the original victim's money ended up.
Fees that never end
Shortly after the good news comes a condition: before payment, a legal fee, network transaction, tax, AML verification or some other invented item must be paid. The NBS cited a specific case — a man who lost 12,000 euros in a cryptocurrency scam was later contacted by an alleged ethical hacker. The hacker demanded 1,000 euros as a deposit to begin the process. After payment, the contact disappeared.
After the first payment, further payments typically follow. If the victim pays the "tax", a transfer fee appears. After that comes identity verification or another administrative obstacle. The fraudsters use technical terminology — talking about blockchain analysis, regulations or cooperation with foreign authorities — to build credibility.
Psychological pressure and artificial urgency
Communication begins with empathy. The fraudster tries to show that they understand the victim's situation. However, they gradually create time pressure: the money must be saved immediately, the account will only be blocked for a limited time, the fee must be paid without delay. It is precisely the prospect of saving a previously lost sum — hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of euros — that makes this type of attack particularly effective.
The NBS warns that similar attackers may pose as lawyers, the tax authority or the police. The National Bank of Slovakia itself never contacts consumers with an offer to "rescue" money and does not ask for transfers in this way.
Warning signs
An immediate red flag is a request to install software on a computer or mobile phone, share the screen or hand over login details to online banking. Such requests should be refused without hesitation.
If someone contacts you unprompted and promises a return of money, the NBS recommends:
- not sending any "processing", legal or network fees in advance,
- independently verifying the name of the person and the company they claim to represent,
- not sharing login details or allowing remote access to your device.
What to do if you have already paid
If you have sent money to the fraudster or given them access to your payment card or online banking details, the NBS recommends immediately contacting your bank. The bank can check the possibilities for further action, block the card or secure the account. You should then file a police report and change all compromised passwords. A loss from the first scam is not a reason to risk further money.
Source: Google News SK — Crime (sk)