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You too can get calls from scammers. Learn how to recognise a scam call

Scam calls are constantly on the rise. Fake bankers, advisors and others attempt to gain your trust, but they are always just interested in your money. How can you protect yourself effectively?

How you can immediately tell it is scammer: 

  • He wants either to gain access details to your George from you, permission for remote access to your computer or that you send money to a “secure” account, or place it in a “secure” ATM. 
    • Fake banker: “Your account has been hacked, so we must block it immediately to save your money. Give us your banking access details…” 
    • Fake investment advisor:   
      “We will require remote access to your computer for a daily overview of your investments... So, we can credit your account with money from investments we require access details to your internet banking.” 

The bank, police or an investment company will never ask you for access to your banking or passwords. It does not require these details even to save your money! None of these institutions will want you to send or place money in “secure” accounts or ATMs. This is always what a scammer will do! 

How to verify that you are speaking to a banker or employee of Česká spořitelna: 

  • If it is a “banker” that is calling, ask him to verify his identity using George. If he refuses, he is probably a scammer. 
  • If you are not sure that you are speaking to a bank employee, end the call and use our NON-STOP helpline 277 207 207.
  • Never share your details with anyone over the phone. Always use George to communicate with your banker.

Tips on how to verify companies, institutions, and state entities:  

  • Visit the official website of the given company and verify the information that is there. Or call the company’s official number. Do not verify information using the phone number/e-mail given to you by this stranger in an SMS or dictated over the phone. Do not call back on the number from which the potential scammer called you. Although it may look like the official number of an institution it could be a fake. Always newly enter and dial the number on your phone. 
  • Search for reviews of the company and the given phone numbers on the internet in several places and do not just rely on the website of the specific company. The more ratings you find the better.  
  • Stop and think. Why would anyone give a lot of money for little work? Would the given institution behave this way? How would you behave in the physical world – would you give the key to your home or your savings to a person you don’t know? What exactly do you know about the counterparty?  
  • Ask your close persons for advice.