Before: a scammer on the phone made up a story and waited for the victim to send money themselves.
Now: criminals come right to your door. A new scheme is spreading quickly in Slovakia: a fake courier personally takes a person's mobile phone, after which all savings disappear from their bank account. As interez.sk writes, this type of fraud has not happened in the country before, and the country's largest bank, Slovenská sporiteľňa, officially warns against it.
The scheme is dangerous because it combines usual phone scams with physical contact. It is much harder to refuse a real "courier" at your own door than an invisible person on the phone. Ján Adamovský, head of the security department at Slovenská sporiteľňa, called the scheme extremely bold and well-thought-out and confirmed: it is spreading very quickly.
How it works step by step
It all starts with a phone call. The victim is told good news: they supposedly earned several thousand euros from cryptocurrency investments, and this money is waiting to be paid out. The only condition is that a special program with NFC technology is needed for the transfer, which the scammers offer to install themselves.
Next, the "courier" comes into play. They are sent to pick up the victim's phone supposedly to install this program. To prevent the person from panicking without communication, the courier gives them another phone with a prepaid SIM card in return. Through this phone, the scammers continue to communicate with the victim and manipulate them further.
If the person hesitates to give up their phone, psychological pressure begins: without this step, the "winnings" cannot be paid out, and the money will supposedly be lost. The courier's convincing appearance only increases trust.
How it ends
With the phone in hand, the scammers trick the victim into revealing their PIN code for internet banking – and gain full control over their accounts. They don't need biometrics or identification: all savings can be transferred from the owner's phone.
But losing savings is not the worst-case scenario. Full access to the banking app allows them to take out loans and consumer credits in the victim's name. This means the person risks not only losing money but also being left with debts that will be difficult and painful to dispute.
How not to get caught
Banks and the police offer simple rules that work flawlessly in this scheme:
Never give your phone to anyone. No bank or courier service will ever ask you to hand over your device to "install an app" or "check something." If they ask, it's a scammer, no exceptions.
Do not share PIN codes and passwords. Not by phone, not in person, not to a "bank employee." A real bank will never ask for them.
Do not believe in unexpected "winnings." If you receive a call with news about earning several thousand euros that you didn't know about, this is the first and main warning sign.
Act immediately if something goes wrong. If you suspect something, call your bank and the police hotline at 158 immediately. The sooner you report it, the greater the chance of blocking the account before the money is transferred.
A detailed description of the scheme with expert comments was published by kryptomagazin.sk, and you can read about how banks advise recognizing fraudulent calls in general in the material from the Slovak Banking Association.
Why this also concerns Ukrainians
Victims of such schemes are most often people who do not fully understand the local situation and give in to the pressure of an "official person." Ukrainians in Slovakia are doubly at risk: the language barrier makes it easier for scammers to work, as it is harder for the victim to quickly check information or call the bank back.
If someone calls you in Slovak with a story about cryptocurrency, winnings, or a "problem with your account" – don't hesitate to hang up and call your bank back using the number from the official website. And if a "courier" appears at your door asking for your phone – just don't open it. No winnings are worth access to your account.
