Scammers trick Czech pensioner out of 1.4 million crowns by phone

An elderly man in Czechia sent phone scammers more than 1.4 million crowns from his own account and from his mother’s account, to which he had access rights. This was reported by police spokeswoman Miluše Zajícová. Police are investigating the case as suspected fraud.

An unknown caller phoned the man and told him a story that his bank account had been attacked and the bank’s personal data misused. By deception, he made him carry out several transfers to supposed “reserve accounts” in Czechia and Slovakia. “Unfortunately, only after transferring a sum exceeding 1.4 million crowns did he realize he had been the victim of a scam and went to the police,” Zajícová said.

The scheme has become very common. It all starts with a call from an unknown number: the fraudster introduces themselves as a police officer or a bank employee and convinces you that someone is trying to use your account or personal data, or to take out a loan in your name. Police statistics in recent months have been filling up with stories of people who fell for the tricks of online fraudsters using the same methods.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz