Fraudulent calls from fake police officers and bank employees

Scammers are becoming increasingly bold and sophisticated. On the phone, they often pretend to be employees of banks, the National Bank of Slovakia, or the police. Their sole aim is to obtain your sensitive information or directly access your money.

What a call from a fake police officer looks like

1. The caller introduces themselves as a police officer – using a name, rank, and possibly a fake badge number. They may claim to be from the criminal investigation unit, the National Criminal Agency (NAKA), or Interpol.
2. They claim you are in danger or under investigation
   For example:
   • Your personal data has been misused.
   • Someone has tried to misuse your account or is attempting to take out a loan in your name.
3. They create pressure and panic
   They may claim that:
   • You must cooperate, or you will face penalties.
   • The call is “secret” and you must not tell anyone around you, nor contact your bank, which is supposedly also involved.
   • You must immediately transfer money to a “safe account”.
4. Requests sensitive information or money
   For example:
   • ID number, bank account, or card details.
   • Codes from SMS or apps.
   • Cash or transfer to a “safe account” or to a box at the National Bank of Slovakia.
5. Uses fraudulent practices
   • A fake number may appear (e.g. “Police of the Slovak Republic”).
   • The call may sound very convincing, with a professional tone.
   • The caller may present fake police IDs, fake bank confirmations, or NBS certificates.
   • The caller may also seemingly transfer the call to other colleagues from the police, bank, or NBS to appear credible and manipulate the victim.

How to protect yourself:

• Never provide personal or banking information over the phone to the caller.
• Verify the call – call back on the official police number (e.g. 158).
• Don’t be intimidated – the police never request money over the phone.
• Report the scam to the police and your bank.

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What a call from a fake banker looks like

1. Number spoofing – the scammer uses technology to falsify the number, so the official bank number or a known contact name appears on the display.
2. Convincing introduction – the caller presents themselves as a “bank security officer,” “personal banker,” or “technical support.” They may have a professional tone and use banking terminology.
3. Creating panic – they claim suspicious activity is happening on your account or that your card was misused, so you must act immediately to avoid losing money.
4. Requesting sensitive information – the scammer asks you to:
   • provide online banking login details,
   • dictate your card number, CVV code, and expiry date,
   • enter a verification code from SMS,
   • install a “security app” (which is actually malicious or a remote access app).
5. Fake connection to a “customer centre” – during the call, they may seemingly transfer you to another scammer posing as a colleague or bank employee.

How to protect yourself

• If a bank employee calls, they never request sensitive information over the phone.
• Verify the call via the bank’s official helpline.
• Do not provide any codes, passwords, or card numbers.
• Hang up if you feel pressured or panicked.
• Report the scam to the police and your bank.

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What a call from a fake National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) employee looks like

1. The caller introduces themselves as an NBS employee, uses a fake name, and speaks Slovak fluently, sometimes with an Eastern Slavic accent.
2. They claim suspicious operations have occurred on your account or that you have an unpaid loan.
3. They create urgency and fear to force immediate action, or you risk losing money.
4. They request sensitive information such as ID number, card numbers, online banking login details, or even copies of identity documents.
5. Number spoofing – the number they call from may appear official.
6. Beware – the attacker may also communicate via email, SMS, or apps.

How to protect yourself

• NBS never calls clients of commercial banks – it does not provide loans, request information, or manage individual accounts.
• Never provide sensitive information over the phone – even if the caller claims to be an authority.
• End the call immediately if you suspect fraud.
• Report the scam to the police if you have already shared information.
• Contact your bank if you have shared account or card details.