Surge in Cybercrime: Police Warn of Record-Breaking Fraud Cases in Croatia

In the first half of 2022, Croatia experienced an alarming surge in cybercrime, with reports reaching an unprecedented level. The Ministry of the Interior announced a concerning 19.3% increase in cybersecurity crimes compared to the same period last year.

Unprecedented Increase in Cybercrimes

According to the Police Directorate, 1,864 cybercrime offenses were recorded, representing a 23.05% increase in computer fraud cases alone. The reported damages totaled over six million euros for the first eleven months of 2022 [1].

Common Scams and Damages

Fraudsters employ various techniques, including identity theft and phishing, to deceive unsuspecting victims. Identity theft remains a common scam, with phishing being the most popular method.

Identity theft: Scammers obtain personal, financial, or security information by using methods like email, telephone calls, or text messages.
Computer fraud: Business owners are also at risk, with CEO fraud cases on the rise [3]. Perpetrators impersonate a high-ranking official within an organization and trick employees into making unauthorized transactions.
Selling items scams: Individuals selling items on online platforms like Njuškalo or Facebook Marketplace are sometimes tricked into sharing their bank details after receiving a bogus delivery request [3].

The ease with which fraudsters create convincing fake websites, emails, and social media profiles has made it increasingly difficult for individuals to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent content.

Recent Instances of Fraud

In the past, individuals have also fallen victim to romance scams, where attackers pose as someone promising love and eventually rob their victims of substantial sums of money [4].

Stay Informed and Protect Yourself

Expert advice from cybersecurity professionals like Zlatan Morić, head of the cybersecurity department at Algebra University, underscores the importance of vigilance and awareness [5].

“People need to be cautious about emails, messages, and social media interaction.”
“Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated tools, so it’s essential that individuals and businesses remain informed of the latest threats and measures to protect themselves.”

References

[1] “Internet scams: This is how fraudsters have changed, and why they cannot be stopped,” Index, December 21, 2022, https://m.index.hr/vijesti/internet-scams-ovaj-nacin-kako-krainice-promijenili-i-zasto-ne-se-mogu-spasiti-od-njih/3850695/ [2] “Damages from cybercrime over six million euros, Renato Grgurić speaks to Index,” Index, December 21, 2022, https://m.index.hr/drugi/novosti/gospodarstvo/damagestar-od-cyberkrime-preko-pet-milijuna-euru-renato-grguric-govori-indexu/3852634/ [3] “The ten most common internet scams,” Ministry of the Interior of Croatia, https://mup.gov.hr/sites/default/files/dokumenti/10_najvrijednijih_internet_prevara_english.pdf [4] “Fraud cases in Croatia: Romance scam leaves 57-year-old man out 4,650 euros,” Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Department, February 28, 2022, https://mup.hr/obavjestenja/83771 [5] “Cybersecurity expert Morić on the increase in cybercrime,” Index, December 21, 2022, https://m.index.hr/vijesti/cybersecurity-ekspert-moric-o-porastu-cyberkrime/3851698/