Trutnov senior defrauded of 13 million CZK in investment scam

A 67-year-old man from the Trutnov region has been defrauded of nearly 13 million CZK following a sophisticated investment scam. The fraud began with a fake internet advertisement that falsely used the names of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and television presenter Tereza Tománková to lure victims.

According to police spokesperson Andrea Muzikantová, the victim was contacted by a woman posing as a manager of an international investment company, who demanded an entry fee. Subsequently, a man contacted the victim under the guise of helping him install a platform to monitor investment offers.

Over a five-month period from March to July, the victim transferred various sums to different accounts and handed large amounts of cash to couriers at his home. The transactions involved a specific code word, ‘koloběžka’ (scooter). The largest single cash handover occurred in late May, when the man gave 7 million CZK to a courier.

Regional economic crime investigators have taken over the case. Criminal proceedings for fraud have been initiated, and the unknown perpetrator faces up to 10 years in prison. Police have issued a warning against responding to unknown investment offers and emphasized that cash should never be handed to strangers, regardless of any agreed-upon passwords or code words.