Man falls for fake investment scam using PM's name — courier caught with 590,000 crowns

Police in Havlíčkův Brod have detained a 27-year-old Ukrainian national who arrived to collect an envelope containing 590,000 crowns from a scammed pensioner — the latest installment in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme. The courier was caught red-handed immediately after the money changed hands, police spokeswoman Dana Čírtková reported.

According to police, the man fell for an advertisement for a fake investment platform back in late June. The scheme promised profits from cryptocurrency trading and cynically used the name of the Czech prime minister to appear legitimate. The victim was convinced by fabricated profit charts and forged documents purporting to show substantial earnings.

To "receive" his supposed profits, the man was told under various pretexts that he first needed to pay certain fees and a "windfall profit tax." Čírtková said the victim was given detailed instructions on how to withdraw large sums in cash and hand them over to couriers.

All communication with the supposed broker took place via WhatsApp. The man initially transferred 100,000 crowns from his own account, but the total damage eventually ran into several hundred thousand crowns. On two occasions, he personally handed cash to couriers who came to his home.

It was precisely this pattern that investigators exploited: once they learned a courier was due to arrive for a third time to collect an envelope with 590,000 crowns, they set up a stakeout. At the appointed time and place, the courier was arrested immediately after taking the money.

The suspect has been charged with attempted money laundering derived from criminal activity. A court has remanded him into custody — if convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.

Roman Adam, head of the economic crime unit of the Havlíčkův Brod police, noted that the crime was carried out by an organized group and benefited third parties. Investigators are now trying to track down the scheme's organizer, who recruited the couriers. Police believe they are dealing with a well-organized criminal network that preys on trusting citizens.

Police also remind the public that such fraudulent schemes often impersonate well-known media outlets, using their names and logos to build trust with potential victims before offering "guaranteed investment advice."

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz