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Three men from Split and Omiš fell victim to Internet fraud, losing more than 170,000 euros
Croatia🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/1/2026

Three men from Split and Omiš fell victim to Internet fraud, losing more than 170,000 euros

Three individuals from Split and Omis fell victim to internet scams, losing over 170,000 euros in total. The first case involved a 34-year-old man who received an SMS message claiming he needed to update his mobile banking app for OTP Bank. After entering a provided code, he discovered 13,000 euros had been stolen from his account. In another incident, a 42-year-old man from the Omis area invested over 14,000 euros into a fraudulent investment opportunity related to oil, gold, and cryptocurrencies after seeing an online ad. He later reported the loss to police, and the investigation is ongoing. The third case involved a Split resident who lost more than 140,000 euros after responding to an advertisement for cryptocurrency investments by HCM agency. He was contacted by individuals posing as brokers, lawyers, and representatives of foreign institutions, who convinced him to send money through cryptocurrency platforms using codes and contact numbers they provided. The investigation into this case is also ongoing.

Three individuals from Split and Omis have fallen victim to online scams, losing more than 170,000 euros in total. The incidents were reported to local police, who are currently investigating the cases. The victims include a 34-year-old man from Omis, a 42-year-old from the Omis area, and a man from Split, each targeted through different methods of deception. The first case involves a 34-year-old man from Omis, who was scammed out of over 13,000 euros after receiving an SMS message prompting him to update his mobile banking application for OTP Bank. The message included a code for “reactivating the app,” which he followed, only later discovering that 13,000 euros had been withdrawn from his account. A criminal complaint has already been filed against an unknown individual in Omis for this fraud. In another incident, a 42-year-old man from the Omis region fell prey to a scam involving investments in oil, gold, and cryptocurrencies. He made multiple payments totaling just under 14,000 euros between June 1 and August 28 of this year after coming across an advertisement offering such investment opportunities. After failing to receive promised returns or a refund, he reported the case to the police, triggering a criminal investigation. A third victim, a man from Split, lost over 140,000 euros after encountering an online ad for a cryptocurrency investment agency named HCM. Through a link provided in the ad, he accessed a website where he entered his personal and contact information. Subsequently, individuals posing as brokers, lawyers, representatives of the UK Tax Authority, Swiss banks, and insurance agencies contacted him via phone and email, promising high returns on his investments. Following their instructions, the man used cryptocurrency platforms to transfer cash repeatedly using contact numbers and codes received from these individuals. Between July 21 and August 27, he sent over 142,000 euros. Police confirmed they received a report on August 28 regarding this loss, with the criminal investigation ongoing. The three cases highlight the growing threat of cybercrime targeting individuals through deceptive practices. Each victim encountered different forms of manipulation, whether through fake updates to banking apps, promises of high-yield investments, or impersonation by supposed financial institutions. These tactics often rely on creating urgency or false security to prompt victims into acting quickly without verifying the legitimacy of the requests. Authorities have emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding such schemes. Local police have issued warnings about the dangers of responding to unsolicited messages and the need to verify the authenticity of any communication requesting sensitive financial information. In some instances, victims were lured by seemingly legitimate offers, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine services and fraudulent activities. Investigations into all three cases are continuing, with police seeking leads to identify those responsible. The complexity of digital crimes often makes tracing perpetrators challenging, especially when they operate internationally or use sophisticated methods to obscure their identities. Victims are advised to report such incidents promptly and to seek assistance from financial institutions and law enforcement. The incidents underscore the need for heightened vigilance among internet users, particularly concerning unexpected communications asking for personal data or financial transactions. As technology evolves, so too do the methods employed by criminals, necessitating continuous education and caution from the public. Authorities remain committed to pursuing those behind these scams and preventing further losses.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 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

3 reports

Telegram.hr logoTelegram.hrIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 908/31/2026
Three people from Split and Omiš lost 170,000 euros in fraud.

Tri osobe iz Splita i Omiša izgubile su ukupno više od 170.000 eura zbog računalnih prijevara. Prvi slučaj uključuje 34-godišnjaka iz Omiša koji je bio žrtva SMS poruke od OTP banke, dok je drugi slučaj uključivao 42-godišnjaka koji je uplatio više od 14.000 eura na oglas za ulaganje u trgovinu naftom, zlatom i kriptovalutama. Treći slučaj uključuje Splićanina koji je izgubio preko 140.000 eura putem interaktivnog oglasa za ulaganje u kriptovalute, gdje je komunicirao s ljudima koji su se pretvarali da su brokeri, odvjetnici i predstavnici porezne uprave Velike Britanije. Svi slučajevi su prijavljeni policiji, a kriminalistička istraživanja su u tijeku.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on three separate cases of computer fraud targeting individuals in Split and Omiš, focusing on financial loss and police investigation. There is no overt ideological framing or emphasis on political parties, policies, or social groups. The tone remains objective, presenting the事实

Why factuality (95): The article provides specific details such as the locations (Split and Omis), amounts lost (over 170,000 euros), and descriptions of the scams involving fake app updates and investment schemes. These align with typical patterns of phishing and fraud reported in similar cases, and there is no clear c

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the facts in a neutral manner, reporting events as they occurred without apparent bias or emotional language. It avoids taking sides or offering commentary beyond what is stated by the police. However, the use of phrases like 'htio se obogatiti na nafti' (wanted to get rich thro

tportal logotportalIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 858/31/2026
Three men from Split and Omiš fell victim to Internet fraud, losing more than 170,000 euros

Three individuals from Split and Omis fell victim to internet scams, losing over 170,000 euros in total. The first case involved a 34-year-old man who received an SMS message claiming he needed to update his mobile banking app for OTP Bank. After entering a provided code, he discovered 13,000 euros had been stolen from his account. In another incident, a 42-year-old man from the Omis area invested over 14,000 euros into a fraudulent investment opportunity related to oil, gold, and cryptocurrencies after seeing an online ad. He later reported the loss to police, and the investigation is ongoing. The third case involved a Split resident who lost more than 140,000 euros after responding to an advertisement for cryptocurrency investments by HCM agency. He was contacted by individuals posing as brokers, lawyers, and representatives of foreign institutions, who convinced him to send money through cryptocurrency platforms using codes and contact numbers they provided. The investigation into this case is also ongoing.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on incidents of cybercrime and fraud affecting individual citizens, which does not involve direct political content, policy debate, or electoral issues. It focuses on criminal activity and law enforcement responses, which are generally considered apolitical unless tied explicitly

Why factuality (95): The article provides specific details about three victims from Split and Omis who fell victim to online scams, including approximate amounts lost (over 170,000 euros total) and descriptions of the methods used (SMS phishing, fake investment opportunities, and impersonation by supposed financial repr

Why objectivity (85): The article presents the information in a straightforward manner but uses some emotionally charged terms like 'prevare' (scams) and describes the victims’ experiences in a way that may evoke sympathy. While it avoids overt bias, the focus on the victims’ losses and the dramatic nature of the fraud m

Net.hr logoNet.hrIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 909/1/2026
You didn't order a package and you get a text?

Croatia Post has been receiving reports from customers who received unexpected packages requiring payment upon delivery, which they did not order. These packages often come from lesser-known online retailers based in third countries and are delivered alongside legitimate orders. Croatia Post acts as a middleman and cannot verify the contents of such parcels due to legal restrictions. Customers are advised to check with household members if someone else ordered the package and to confirm the stated fee matches the seller’s advertised price. If suspicious, recipients can refuse the package, which will then be returned to the sender. Victims of scams are encouraged to report incidents to the police and notify Croatia Post, which forwards complaints to logistics companies to discontinue cooperation with fraudulent senders.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a common issue involving fraud and customer protection, without taking a stance or using biased language. It provides information from Croatia Post and offers practical advice to consumers, maintaining neutrality.

Why factuality (90): The article discusses a common scam involving unexpected delivery notifications and payment requests for packages that were never ordered. It references statements from Hrvatska Pošta and mentions the increase in such incidents since the beginning of the year. This aligns with broader reports about

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting facts without editorializing or taking sides. It quotes an official representative from Hrvatska Pošta and offers practical advice to readers on how to avoid falling victim to such scams. The language remains objective and informative.

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