In Košice, a long-term financial scheme was uncovered, through which 16 people lost over 350 thousand euros. Regional criminalists charged a 62-year-old man with continued fraud, investigating his actions that lasted almost eight years.
According to the police, since about 2016 he contacted victims under the pretext (gloss: false reason) that he would help them get a profitable insurance payout (poistná výplata). The man assured people they would receive the money soon, but first they needed to pay a series of additional fees. Fake payments were repeated constantly, and the victims sent money to specified bank accounts following his instructions.
The case results show huge losses:
- Number of victims: 16 people from the Košice and Prešov regions.
- Total damage: Over 350 thousand euros.
- Size of losses: In some cases, it was tens of thousands of euros, as people gradually transferred all their savings.
However, the promised money never arrived in the accounts. Because the case was large-scale, criminalists had to analyze a huge number of financial transactions in detail, conduct numerous interrogations, and carry out a search.
The investigator has already prepared a motion to detain the accused. Investigation details were published by the Košice police, and the police do not exclude that the circle of victims may be even wider.
