Zagreb Police Arrest 22 Suspects for Defrauding Seniors in Banknote Scam Scheme
On November 23, 2022, a criminal association and fraud investigation was conducted by the USKOK against 22 individuals in Zagreb. The defendants were accused of deceiving people by pretending to be police officers and selling the story that they were conducting an investigation against bank employees for putting counterfeit banknotes into circulation at their expense. The first defendant managed the entire group and after people believed them and discovered how much money and jewelry they had, they would come to those addresses and take the money and jewelry. In this way, the defendants obtained illegal financial benefits in the amount of 1,045,005.64 euros to the detriment of 89 elderly persons.
According to I. okr charges, the indictment states that during September to November 23, 2022 in Zagreb, he planned a joint operation with other defendants and unknown persons with the goal of acquiring substantial non-appropriated material benefits through false representation to a large number of elderly people that the police officers who are conducting an investigation against bank employees for putting counterfeit banknotes into circulation are working on their behalf and that it is necessary for them to check their money for counterfeits or hand over their gold jewelry for securing purposes. II. X., XXII district defendants received instructions from I., personally or through his district II., IX district defendant district defended called elderly people from call centers representing themselves as police officers tasked with protecting their property. After these individuals believed them and revealed what they possessed in terms of money and gold jewelry according to I.’s instructions given through his district II., personally or through IX district defendant district defended took possession of these items from their addresses using vehicles provided by I.’s first district prior to this purpose. These actions led to significant financial gains for all involved in accordance with their roles within the organization as described above.
