Financial Crime World

Scammers Target Expats in Czech Republic with Fake Calls and Texts

Expats living in the Czech Republic have been receiving a surge of fake calls and texts claiming to be from official organizations such as the police, tax office, and postal service. These scams aim to defraud victims by tricking them into providing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.

Common Scams

  • Police Impersonation: A pre-recorded voice message from a number claiming to be the Czech police informs the recipient that their ID has been used for money laundering and that a warrant is out for their arrest. The message asks the victim to press “1” to speak to an officer.
  • Tax Office Scam: Fake text messages claim to be from the Czech tax office, informing the recipient of an alleged overpayment of CZK 30,000. The message directs the victim to a fake webpage, which asks for sensitive details such as their birth number and bank information.
  • Czech Post Scam: Fake text messages claim to be from Czech Post, informing the recipient that a package is being delivered to their home address or cannot be sent due to non-payment of customs fees. The goal is to get people to enter their sensitive details after they have pressed the malicious link on the text message.

Expert Advice

  • According to Ondřej Moravčík, head of press at the Czech police, the impersonation of Czech police is probably just a coincidence.
  • Police Never Communicate via Recorded Messages: The police would never communicate in this way, and if anyone becomes suspicious about a phone call from someone purporting to be the police, they should hang up immediately.
  • Spotting Scams: Experts advise people on how to spot whether a message is a scam. “The Financial Administration or Tax Office never uses voicemail when calling. We also never send any active link or click-throughs anywhere in SMS messages or e-mails,” said Tomáš Weiss, Czech Financial Administration spokesperson.

What You Can Do

  • Be Vigilant: Remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls or texts to the relevant authorities.
  • Don’t Click Links: Pay close attention to the sender’s number and do not click any links. Provide no details, and report the issue to info@cpost.cz if you receive a suspicious text message from Czech Post.

By being aware of these scams, people can protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud. Stay informed and stay safe!