Do not be coaxed into buying cryptocurrencies and do not forward them to third parties
Published on 25 February 2022
The Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (Hanfa) would like to warn the public of a new form of cryptocurrency fraud in which citizens lose significant amounts of money without the possibility of its recovery.
Anonymous persons are contacting citizens by telephone, recommending investment in cryptocurrencies and promising high returns. In doing so, these persons often recommend buying and forwarding cryptocurrencies through companies engaged in the provision of exchange services between virtual currencies and fiat currencies, which may also be the companies on Hanfa’s list. However, this does not mean that citizens are not victims of fraud in this case, because when they make purchases, and at the instigation of these anonymous persons, they pass cryptocurrencies on to third parties, they lose these amounts, and anonymous persons stop contacting them and do not return their investment.
Hanfa is taking this opportunity to urge all citizens not to be tricked by phone calls from unknown persons, various advertisements and invitations on social networks, as well as on various websites that promise high returns. Similarly, they should avoid investing their money in financial products that they do not understand and for which they have not verified the authenticity and authorisation of financial intermediaries, regardless of the type of investment involved.
More details on all of Hanfa’s warnings are available on its website, as well as other information, educational texts, brochures and leaflets.
