Czech Banking Association reports 10 billion CZK in attempted fraud

According to the Czech Banking Association, fraudsters attempted to steal more than 10 billion CZK from bank clients during the first seven months of 2026. While the actual damage reached 1.9 billion CZK, banks successfully protected over 8.1 billion CZK in threatened funds.

Common attack methods include fraudulent phone calls, SMS messages, and fake websites. Investment scams are noted as particularly dangerous, often utilizing professional-looking websites, fake platforms, and fabricated charts to lure victims into transferring increasingly larger sums of money.

Aleš Blažek, President of the Czech Banking Association and CEO of ČSOB, stated that while banks invest billions in advanced security systems to stop suspicious transactions, fraudsters are increasingly relying on social engineering. These tactics involve creating time pressure and fear by impersonating bankers, police officers, or investment advisors to trick victims into confirming payments or revealing sensitive data.

In response, the association is launching the sixth year of the #nePINdej! campaign and has introduced an improved version of the Cybertest, which uses artificial intelligence and deepfake videos to help people recognize common fraud types.