Residents and visitors to Košice are urged to exercise the utmost caution: fake volunteers have become more active near medical facilities and in crowded areas of the city. Scammers are exploiting people’s compassion and, under the guise of raising funds for children or people with disabilities, are swindling them out of cash. Patrick, a local resident, shared details on social media about the latest scam near the Old Hospital on Rastislavova Street, warning his neighbors against acting rashly.
How the scheme works: forged forms and psychological pressure
According to the eyewitness, the scammers operate mainly near the clinic and target the most vulnerable groups—the elderly, patients, and hospital visitors.
The scammers pretend to be deaf and mute and approach passersby with a tablet in their hands. The documents feature convincing symbols—such as the European Union flag or a wheelchair icon—and the “campaign” itself is presented as a fundraiser for an “international center for deaf and poor children.”
To extract as much money as possible, the scammers use several psychological tricks:
Inflated amounts on the lists: The donation forms already have fake contributions from “previous donors” listed in advance—20, 50, or 100 euros—to make people feel guilty and force them to give more.
No sealed collection boxes: They take the money directly into their hands or hide it in their pockets.
Outright theft: According to witnesses, if you give the scammers a large bill and ask for change, they simply take the money and run.
Eyewitnesses note that the scammers’ “disability” instantly vanishes at the slightest sign of danger: as soon as the police appear on the horizon or someone begins to actively confront them, the pseudo-volunteers “miraculously recover,” start communicating freely with one another, and make phone calls.
The scope of the scam is expanding
Residents of Koshytsia have also reported similar incidents in other parts of the city—specifically near the shopping center in the Nad jazerom neighborhood, as well as in restaurants in the city center, where the scammers go from table to table. Residents urge people not to argue with them—so as not to scare them off—but to immediately call law enforcement at 158.
In addition, the Slovak police are warning of similar scams in tourist and mountain regions. There, the scammers leave homemade collection boxes with signs claiming to “raise funds for a seriously ill boy,” cynically preying on the misfortune of a real family.
Law enforcement officials emphasize: do not transfer or hand over money without verifying the official organizer and the fundraising permit, and immediately report all suspicious cases to the 158 hotline.
