Osijek-Baranja police are hunting two fraudsters who posed as a doctor and an oil trader, with two citizens in the county losing more than €30,000. The police reported the cases on Thursday.
In August and September, a 70-year-old man from the wider Osijek area became the victim of a fraud by an unknown perpetrator. He believed he was investing in oil and unrefined gold, for which he transferred money on several occasions. He handed over a total of 21,770 euros to the unknown fraudster.
In the second case, an unknown perpetrator contacted a 76-year-old woman by phone on Wednesday, posing as a doctor. He told her that her daughter was in hospital and that she needed to pay for the operation. He also falsely stated that gold bars were needed for the operation to prevent the amputation of her leg.
Following the instructions of the perpetrator, the 76-year-old woman handed over €10,000 to a stranger. The search for the perpetrators is ongoing.
The police warn citizens not to transfer money unless they are sure of the authenticity of the person they are communicating with. They also urge citizens to report any such communication to the police if they suspect fraud.
