Beware of Scams Involving Fake Bankers and Police Officers

April 16, 2025

Scammers in the Czech Republic are increasingly impersonating bank employees or police officers. Their goal is to convince victims to transfer their money to so-called 'safe accounts' or deposit it into bitcoin ATMs.

🔍 How the Scam Works

Call from a “Banker”
The victim receives a call from someone claiming to work at their bank. The scammer warns of suspicious activity, such as a hacker trying to steal money or an unauthorized loan being taken out. They say the only way to stop it is to quickly transfer your funds to a “secure account.”
Follow-up from a “Police Officer”
The victim then receives another call, this time from a supposed police officer. They reinforce the banker’s warning, send fake police IDs via message, and assure the victim they are part of an ongoing investigation. So far, two fake IDs have been used, featuring the names “Renata” and “Karel".
Closing the Trap
Victims are instructed to:
- Transfer funds online
- Withdraw cash and give it to a courier
- Use a bitcoin ATM to “secure” their money

Once the money is sent, it’s gone. Most of the Bitcoin ATMs have warning signs from the police, as you can see in the image below.

🧠 The Power of Manipulation

These scammers don’t just rely on technology — they’re master manipulators. Here’s how they use psychology to trick their victims:

Panic: They create a crisis ("Your account is under attack!") to force fast action.
Authority: They use fake identities and official language to sound legitimate.
Trust: By appearing calm, polite, and helpful, they gain your confidence.
Urgency: They say “there’s no time to waste,” discouraging victims from thinking things through.
Confusion & Isolation: Victims are often told not to tell anyone — even family — because of “ongoing investigations.”

"Fraudsters can be extremely convincing, polite, and friendly. But once they’ve got the money, they often turn aggressive or cut off contact" said police spokesperson Soňa Štětínská.

📊 Statistics and Real Cases

In just Q1 of 2025, Ostrava police reported 40 victims scammed by fake bankers.
The total loss was nearly 15 million CZK — in just three months.
In all of 2024, there were only 25 such cases, with damages around 4 million CZK.

“It’s clear this scam method is increasingly successful,” police say. “And these numbers are likely just the tip of the iceberg — most victims are too embarrassed to report it.”

Across the Czech Republic, the damage is much greater, with national losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of CZK.

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself

Don’t trust unexpected callers, even if they say they’re from your bank or police.
Never move money “for protection” — real institutions never ask that.
Hang up and call back using official contact numbers.
Talk to someone you trust — don’t isolate yourself under pressure.
Report suspicious calls to the Czech Police immediately.
Stay informed! Read our blog and follow notifications in the Redamp.io app to stay updated on the latest threats we monitor for you.

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