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Clicking on links and losing 23,850 euros: One account lost as much as 17,000
Croatia🏛️ PoliticsCenter

Clicking on links and losing 23,850 euros: One account lost as much as 17,000

The police have received four reports of computer fraud in which three women and one man lost a total of 23,850 euros. The scammers used fake messages about mobile banking, links for online sales, and warnings about allegedly threatened bank accounts. In two cases, women received SMS messages informing them that their access to the OTPgo app was about to expire and that they needed to update their information via a provided link. After opening the links and entering their details, one woman lost 600 euros, while another lost 2,550 euros. Another woman was deceived after advertising a washing machine for sale online. A person claiming to be an interested buyer sent her a link supposedly belonging to the delivery service DPD. Following the instructions, she entered her banking details through mobile banking and later discovered a missing 3,700 euros from her account. The man who lost the largest amount, 17,000 euros, was contacted by an unknown person claiming his bank account was at risk. After opening the provided link and entering his details, the money was withdrawn from his account. The police warn citizens not to open suspicious links in messages requesting updates to mobile银行,

Osijek-Baranja police arrested two Bulgarian nationals, a 47-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, on suspicion of defrauding a 73-year-old local resident of 8,320 euros. The authorities announced the arrests on Wednesday, stating that the suspects posed as medical professionals to extract money for a fictitious surgery. Police will submit a special report to the competent State Attorney’s Office regarding the suspected crime of fraud. The criminal investigation determined that the scam began on September 8. On that day, an unidentified perpetrator contacted the elderly victim by telephone. The caller falsely identified himself as a doctor. He informed the woman that her sister was hospitalized and required immediate payment for an operation. Believing the story, the 73-year-old agreed to transfer funds. She handed over a total of 8,320 euros to an unknown person, following instructions coordinated with the fraudster. In a separate series of incidents in the Split-Dalmatia region, police recorded four reports of computer fraud involving three women and one man. These victims lost a combined total of 23,850 euros. Perpetrators utilized fake mobile banking messages, links for online sales, and warnings about compromised bank accounts. In two cases, women received text messages claiming their access to the OTPgo application would expire soon unless they updated data via a provided link. After entering their information, one woman lost 600 euros, while the other lost 2,550 euros. Another woman fell victim after listing a dishwasher for sale online. An individual posing as an interested buyer sent her a link purportedly belonging to the delivery service DPD. Following the instructions, she entered data through mobile banking. Subsequent checks revealed a missing balance of 3,700 euros. The largest loss occurred when a man was contacted by an unknown person claiming his bank account was under threat. After opening the sent link and inputting his details, 17,000 euros were deducted from his account. Police in Split-Dalmatia warned citizens against opening suspicious links in messages requesting mobile banking updates, data confirmation, or account protection. They advised residents not to enter PINs, card data, login credentials, or one-time security codes on such pages. Authorities recommended verifying the authenticity of messages or calls by contacting banks directly through official communication channels. For online sales, buyers should never receive banking security data, as transfers do not require revealing PINs or authorization codes. Citizens suspecting fraud are urged to immediately cease communication, contact their bank, and report the incident to police. Meanwhile, in Primorje-Gorizia County, police are investigating a computer fraud case targeting a 52-year-old Croatian citizen from the Rijeka area. The investigation is conducted by officers from the First Police Station in Rijeka. According to gathered information, the victim responded to an advertisement on social media in March 2026. The ad offered opportunities for profit and investment in cryptocurrencies with an initial contribution of just 250 euros. After entering personal and contact details, multiple unknown individuals established contact with her. They induced her to make repeated payments of financial resources via cryptocurrency transactions, bank account transfers, and money transfer services. The cumulative material damage inflicted on the 52-year-old woman exceeded 230,000 euros. Police have not yet published data on the perpetrators or the specific number of transactions executed. Officials from the Primorje-Gorizia Police Department appealed to citizens to exercise extreme caution when investing via the internet. They specifically warned against falling for advertisements promising quick and large profits with small investments. Residents were instructed never to hand over personal or banking data to unverified persons or websites. Separately, police disclosed details of another scheme involving false medical emergencies. Several Bulgarian nationals were detained on suspicion of impersonating doctors. In these instances, scammers convinced parents that their children had been injured. During the phone calls, victims reportedly heard distressing screams in the background, which added to the urgency of the fabricated scenario. This method was used to steal money from families who feared for their children's safety. The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organized fraud rings operating within Croatia using social engineering tactics.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 5 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

6 reports

Jutarnji list logoJutarnji listIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 95
A fake doctor withdrew 8320 euros from a 73-year-old woman, two Bulgarians arrested

The Osijek-Baranja police arrested two Bulgarians, a 47-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, on suspicion of defrauding a 73-year-old woman from the same municipality of over 8,320 euros by posing as a doctor and convincing her to pay for a fake operation. The fraud occurred on September 8, when an unknown perpetrator called the elderly woman and falsely claimed to be a doctor, informing her that her sister was hospitalized and needed surgery. Believing this, the woman paid the money to an unknown person as instructed. The police have confirmed that they will submit a special report to the State Prosecutor's Office regarding the suspected crime of fraud.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal investigation involving fraud and arrests, which is a legal matter rather than a political issue. There is no indication of political bias in the framing, word choice, or emphasis. The content is factual and does not favor any particular political side.

Why factuality (95): The article presents specific details (ages, amount, date, method) clearly attributed to police reports. Without a primary source to contradict these specifics, the internal consistency and standard journalistic attribution make it highly reliable within the context of the available information.

Why objectivity (95): The tone is strictly informational and neutral. It uses standard legal terminology ('sumnja', 'kazneno djelo') and avoids emotional adjectives or moralizing judgments about the victims or perpetrators.

Net.hr logoNet.hrIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 95
Clicking on links and losing 23,850 euros: One account lost as much as 17,000

The police have received four reports of computer fraud in which three women and one man lost a total of 23,850 euros. The scammers used fake messages about mobile banking, links for online sales, and warnings about allegedly threatened bank accounts. In two cases, women received SMS messages informing them that their access to the OTPgo app was about to expire and that they needed to update their information via a provided link. After opening the links and entering their details, one woman lost 600 euros, while another lost 2,550 euros. Another woman was deceived after advertising a washing machine for sale online. A person claiming to be an interested buyer sent her a link supposedly belonging to the delivery service DPD. Following the instructions, she entered her banking details through mobile banking and later discovered a missing 3,700 euros from her account. The man who lost the largest amount, 17,000 euros, was contacted by an unknown person claiming his bank account was at risk. After opening the provided link and entering his details, the money was withdrawn from his account. The police warn citizens not to open suspicious links in messages requesting updates to mobile银行,

Bias read (Center): The article discusses a crime-related incident involving financial fraud and provides factual information without taking a stance or showing bias towards any political entity or ideology.

Why factuality (95): This article provides specific examples of scam incidents involving phishing links, fake websites, and financial loss. These details align with the general consensus found in the first article, which also mentions similar tactics such as cloned websites and phishing emails. The facts are clearly pre

Why objectivity (95): The article maintains an objective tone, presenting the events and police warnings without bias or emotional language. It focuses on informing readers about the risks and providing clear guidance on how to avoid falling victim to scams, without favoring any particular perspective.

Novi list logoNovi listIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 92
A woman from the Rijeka area damaged for more than 230,000 euros in a computer fraud with cryptocurrencies

A 52-year-old woman from the Rijeka area has suffered losses exceeding 230,000 euros due to a computer fraud involving cryptocurrencies. She responded to an online advertisement promising earnings through cryptocurrency investments, requiring an initial investment of 250 euros. After providing her personal and contact information, she was contacted by multiple unknown individuals who persuaded her to make repeated payments via cryptocurrency, bank transfers, and money transfer services. The police are investigating this case under the charge of 'computer fraud' and warn citizens to be extremely cautious when investing online, advising against responding to ads offering quick and large profits with minimal investment and not to share personal or banking information with unverified individuals or websites.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal investigation into a financial scam involving a citizen, with no apparent ideological framing or emphasis on political actors, policies, or partisan issues. It focuses on law enforcement actions and public warnings, which are neutral in tone.

Why factuality (90): This article closely matches the details presented in the first source, including the victim's age, location, loss amount, method of scam, and police response. It accurately reflects the police investigation status and warnings issued to the public.

Why objectivity (92): The article maintains a highly objective tone throughout, presenting only verifiable facts without editorializing or introducing subjective interpretations. The language is professional and neutral.

Index.hr logoIndex.hrIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 90
Rijeka fraudulently lost more than 230,000 euros

A 52-year-old Croatian woman from Rijeka fell victim to a computer fraud scheme, losing over 230,000 euros after encountering an online advertisement offering investment opportunities in cryptocurrencies. The ad promised high returns with an initial investment of just 250 euros. After providing her personal and contact information, she was persuaded by unknown individuals to make multiple larger payments through cryptocurrency transactions, bank transfers, and money transfer services. The police are investigating the case and warn citizens about scams related to online investments, especially those promising large and quick profits with minimal initial investments. They advise people to be cautious and never share personal or banking information with unverified individuals or websites.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal investigation involving financial fraud and provides general warnings about online scams. It does not take a stance on any political issue, nor does it favor one side in a debate. The content is factual and balanced, focusing on the incident itself and the police's劝

Why factuality (85): The article provides specific details about the victim being a 52-year-old Croatian citizen from Rijeka who lost over 230,000 euros through cryptocurrency scams via social media. It mentions the police investigation by the I. Police Station in Rijeka and the lack of information about perpetrators or

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the incident in a neutral manner, using standard journalistic language. It includes direct quotes from the police warning citizens about online investment scams but avoids any biased language or opinionated commentary.

Dnevnik.hr logoDnevnik.hrIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 85
Four people lost their savings: A man's account was taken for as much as 17,000 euros, and here's what he bought

Four individuals in Split have lost nearly 24,000 euros after falling victim to scams involving fake bank account messages and online sales. The police warn that these fraudulent activities are increasing, with reports coming not only from Split but also from other cities. One man had 17,000 euros stolen from his account, highlighting the severity of the issue. Authorities are urging people to remain cautious and verify any unexpected financial requests.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a crime-related incident involving fraud and does not present any political viewpoints, framing, or commentary. It simply reports on the occurrence of scams affecting multiple individuals, without leaning toward any particular ideological perspective.

Why factuality (80): The article reports that four people were defrauded of nearly 24,000 euros in Split area through fake bank account messages and online sales. While this is similar to the main event described in other sources, it adds new victims and locations not mentioned elsewhere, slightly reducing its alignment

Why objectivity (85): The article uses a more dramatic headline ('Muškarcu s računa skinuli čak 17.000 eura') which introduces an emotionally charged element not present in other reports. However, the body remains largely neutral and factual.

Dnevnik.hr logoDnevnik.hrIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 60
"Doctors" assured parents that their children had been injured, and in the background came a frightening scream: "The police have discovered who is behind the scam!"

Four individuals were arrested in connection with a scam where they pretended to be doctors and convinced parents that their children had been injured, all while fake screams could be heard in the background. The police investigation revealed that these suspects targeted vulnerable families by creating false emergencies and then stealing money from them. This scheme involved deception and emotional manipulation, exploiting fears related to children's safety. The incident highlights a growing concern around medical fraud and scams targeting parents.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal investigation involving fraud and deception but does not take a clear stance on political issues, parties, or policies. It focuses on the actions of individuals rather than broader political narratives or decisions by officials.

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (60): The tone is sensationalist ('jesivi krici' - eerie screams, 'Užas' - Horror in related links). The framing relies on emotional hooks rather than neutral reporting, reducing objectivity.

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