Everyone living in Slovakia knows that once a year, they must pay a local fee for trash collection and other municipal services. Scammers have decided to take advantage of this routine by launching a new scam targeting the country’s residents. The police are warning about phishing text messages being sent en masse, purportedly on behalf of government agencies.
The scammers claim there is a small outstanding balance for utility services and demand immediate payment via a link. The goal is to trick you into revealing your credit card information or online banking login credentials. We’ll explain how the scam works, what to look out for, and what to do if you do fall for it.
How the New Scam Works
The scam follows the classic phishing scenario but with a new “storyline” that preys on trust in official authorities. The Slovak police warn that the scammers have changed their tactics after less successful attempts involving fake traffic tickets.
Here’s how the scam works:
- You receive an SMS on your phone stating that you have a small unpaid debt for komunálne služby (utility services).
- The message creates a sense of urgency—for example, it states that the payment deadline is approaching soon. This is a psychological trick designed to make you act quickly and without thinking.
- The text message includes a link that supposedly allows you to pay off the debt quickly and conveniently.
- This link leads to a fake page that mimics the design of an official government portal or payment system.
- On the site, you’re asked to enter your full payment card details (number, expiration date, CVV code) or your online banking username and password.
As soon as you enter this information, it falls into the hands of scammers. They can then either drain all the money from your account or use your card details to make online purchases.
How to Spot a Scam
Although fraudulent websites may look convincing, there are several clear signs that give the scam away. The most important thing is not to panic and not to act hastily.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Communication channel. Local authorities (city or village governments) typically do not send text messages with links to pay debts. Information about outstanding debts and bills is sent by mail to your address or via official email accounts on the slovensko.sk portal.
- Website address. Always check the URL in your browser’s address bar. Fraudulent websites often use similar names, but the domain will be different (for example, .com or .org instead of the official .sk). The address may contain errors or strange characters.
- Psychological pressure. Any messages demanding immediate action under threat of fines or account suspensions should raise suspicion. Government agencies allow sufficient time to resolve financial matters.
- Lack of personalization. Fraudulent messages are usually generic (“Dear Customer”). Official letters from the government always include your personal information.
The most important rule: if you receive such a message and have any doubts, never click on the link. The best way to verify the information is to contact your city (mestský úrad) or village (obecný úrad) government directly. Contact information can be found on their official website.
What to Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Scammers
If you’ve simply received a suspicious text message, the best course of action is to delete it and warn your loved ones, especially older people, who are more vulnerable to such scams.
If, however, you did click on the link and entered your information:
- You entered your card information. Immediately call your bank and ask them to block your card. The hotline number is always listed on the back of the card or on the bank’s official website.
- You entered your online banking username and password. Contact your bank immediately, explain the situation, and block access to your account. After that, you must change all your passwords.
- You’ve lost money. If funds have already been withdrawn from your account, after blocking your card and account, you should go to the nearest police station and file a report. Save the fraudulent text message as evidence.
Do not trust unsolicited messages about debts, and always verify information through official channels. This is the most reliable way to protect your money from scammers.
