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Looking for the fastest way to make money? This is exactly the desire that scammers are exploiting to make money off today
No legitimate financial institution would ever ask for any kind of access to your computer or mobile device! 
Making money has never been faster or easier, just register here?
Do these statements seem too good to be true? Common sense says yes, but sometimes the appeal of fast and effortless profit can make this type of scam seem like a really good investment opportunity. Even more so if an ad that appears on our mobile or computer screen features a trusted or familiar face. That makes falling for a scam even more likely.
Early in May The Istrian Police Department announced that it is investigating an investment fraud that caused material damage of almost 50,000 euros.
The report was made by a person who first deposited money two years ago, thinking they were making a real investment, and continued to deposit additional amounts, convinced that the funds were growing. The number of cases like this is on the rise.
Investment frauds and false promises of fast earnings have become one of the fastest growing forms of financial fraud. Scammers use social media ads, fake brokerage platforms, investment apps, and phone calls to gain trust of potential victims and create an illusion of expertise. They often play the “emotional card“, targeting people who are simply trying to find financial security and income in uncertain times.
Scams are becoming increasingly difficult to identify
A few years ago, these types of scams were often easy to spot, because they were full of grammatical errors, their websites looked bad, and the overall communication was very suspicious, but the advanced technology changed that. Today, it is very difficult to tell the difference between real and fake. Scammers use artificial intelligence to create convincing ads, generate professionally written emails, and fake videos, often featuring celebrities who falsely “recommend safe investments.”
How do these scams work?
- Scammers first call or send a message and, knowing the victim's name, offer a "sure profit”
- They lure you in with small initial payments and fake apps showing false profits
- They ask for extra payment claiming that is required for tax, commission and similar purposes
- They often request remote access software (remote view) installation and that enables them to take control of the victim's device and mobile banking
Scammers are no longer just after your money, they want to take control of your device
Namely, in investment fraud, the goal is no longer only tricking victims into sending money. Scammers are now primarily trying to gain remote access to the victim's mobile device or computer by using remote control apps, often asking the victim for their PIN and one-time passwords to access and hijack their online banking in order to carry out unauthorized transactions from the victim’s account.
Victims are told that a technical support application has to be installed and once they install the remote access app, the scammers gain complete control over the victim's device. This is one of the most important red flags, because no legitimate financial institution would ever ask for any kind of access to your computer or mobile device.
Additionally, there is the feeling of excitement, of "winning" and "making profits", which is why many people do not immediately suspect that they have become a victim of fraud. Victims are shown a fake account balance and "investment growth" on the fake app, and by the time they become aware that the money is gone and they have been scammed, it is already too late.
In order to educate citizens about various forms of fraud, Zagrebačka banka launched the „ZABAci oko na prijevare“ campaign, which aims to warn citizens about the most common financial scams, including those involving fake financial advisors.
To conclude - don’t forget: if it is too good to be true, it probably isn't.