Bosnia and Herzegovina police warn of rising internet fraud

Police departments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Canton 10 and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Herzeg-Bosnia Canton, have issued warnings regarding a rise in internet fraud and phishing attacks targeting citizens and businesses.

Scammers are reportedly using various methods to steal personal and banking information. One common tactic involves perpetrators posing as interested buyers on platforms such as OLX.ba and Booking.com. They send fraudulent links, often disguised as postal or payment institution websites, requesting card numbers and CVV codes under the guise of facilitating a payment. Authorities emphasize that only an IBAN is required to receive funds and that security codes should never be shared via external links.

Additionally, criminals are creating fake online stores that mimic well-known brands, promoting them through sponsored advertisements on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook with massive discounts of up to 80 percent. Once a customer enters their payment details, the data is stolen for unauthorized transactions. There is also an increase in Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, where attackers use email addresses that closely resemble legitimate business contacts to deceive victims.