Cybercrime surge hits Croatia and Slovenia via phishing

Law enforcement agencies in Croatia and Slovenia are reporting a surge in sophisticated cybercrime and phishing attacks targeting bank accounts and online investments.

In Croatia, multiple reports have emerged from the Zadar and Dubrovnik-Neretva regions. In one instance, three women lost approximately 15,800 euros after clicking links in fraudulent SMS messages that mimicked bank notifications for mobile app updates. Similar phishing attempts in Zadar also resulted in significant financial losses. Police in Dalmatia have issued warnings regarding these tactics, noting that scammers use fake websites to steal login credentials and security codes.

In Slovenia, police in the Gorenjska, Dolenjska, and Celje regions are investigating cases where victims were defrauded of large sums through fake investment promises. One victim lost 68,000 euros, while another lost 37,000 euros after being misled by promises of high returns on foreign accounts. Authorities report that total reported damages from online fraud in Slovenia reached 40.4 million euros in 2025, a 33 percent increase from the previous year.