Croatian and Bosnian police alert public to rise in banking phishing and fake‑investment scams

Police in the Bosnian town of Drniš recorded two cases of SMS banking phishing. A 29‑year‑old and a 22‑year‑old each received messages they believed were from their banks, followed a link, entered personal and card details and lost €500 and €960 respectively. Investigators are searching for the perpetrators and have issued warnings that banks never request personal data, PINs, CVV codes or one‑time passwords via SMS, email or social media.

In Croatia, Rijeka police reported that a 73‑year‑old citizen was lured by a social‑media advertisement promising easy profit from stock trading. After providing his personal information and making multiple transfers, he lost more than €17,000. The fraudsters ceased contact and offered no returns.

Both incidents are part of a broader pattern of internet‑based frauds targeting citizens in the region. Authorities urge people to verify the source of any unsolicited requests, avoid clicking suspicious links, and contact their banks through official channels before providing any information.