Common Scams in the Czech Republic

What if I really did forget to pay my taxes? What if the police really are looking for me? Scammers know how to play on exactly those fears, and they are adapting their tricks quickly.

This is a rundown of the most common scams in the Czech Republic, based on real cases reported by the Czech Police, the Czech National Bank, and investigative shows like ČT’s Antivirus. The scams don’t always follow these exact scripts. New versions appear every day. The key is to stay calm, take a step back, and verify everything directly with the relevant authorities before acting.

1. Scam Calls (Vishing & Spoofing)
2. Scam SMS and Email Links (Phishing)
3. Parcel Delivery Scams
4. Online Marketplace Fraud
5. Trade Licence “official mail”
6. Energy, Telecom & Utility Contract Tricks
7. Flathunt Scams

1] Scam Calls (Vishing & Spoofing)

Scammers call pretending to be from your bank, the Czech National Bank (ČNB), the police, or the financial office (Finanční úřad). It could be a real person or an automated voice. They might warn you that your bank account has been hacked, that you’re under investigation, that you owe money or that you must transfer your savings to a “safe account” immediately.

Their key tactics are:

• Urgency: You must act now to avoid losing money or facing legal trouble.
• Authority: Caller ID may show an official number (this is called spoofing).
• Pressure: They may ask you to install a “security app.” In reality, it gives them remote access to your banking.

What to do:

• Hang up. Search for the number that called you – use websites like www.kdomivolal.eu or www.vyhledatcislo.cz to see if others reported it as a scam. Call your bank, ČNB, or the police back on their official published numbers.

More info:

• Policie ČR: Pozor na podvody – Vishing a spoofing
• ČNB: Online podvody – Chraňte své peníze

2] Scam SMS and Email Links (Phishing)

These kinds of messages look like they’re from an official institution, but they’re not. They often copy the logo and wording of the financial office, police, or courier companies like DHL, Česká pošta, or Zásilkovna.

Typical examples:

• Finanční úřad: “You have a tax refund of 3 500 CZK. Please confirm your bank account via this link.”
• Policie ČR: “You have an unpaid fine. Pay online to avoid legal action.”
• DHL: “Pay CZK 30 for delivery or your package will be returned.”

The link leads to a fake website where your bank or card details are stolen.

What to do:

• Don’t click the link. Instead, type the institution’s address into your browser yourself.
• Check that the website address matches the official one and starts with “https://” (secure connection), ends with .cz and has no strange characters.
• If in doubt, call the company on their official number.

3] Parcel Delivery Scams

You get a text or email saying your package is on the way — but you need to pay a small fee for delivery or customs clearance. The message might look like it’s from DHL, Česká pošta, or Zásilkovna.

The link takes you to a very convincing copy of the courier’s website. Once you “pay” the fee, scammers now have your card details. In some cases, they’ll follow up with a phone call pretending to be customer support, walking you through “fixing the payment”, which actually means giving them even more access.

What to do:

• Check the tracking number on the courier’s real website (typed manually).
• Courier companies in Czechia will never demand card details by SMS link.

4] Online Marketplace Fraud

Popular platforms like Bazoš, Sbazar, Vinted, or Facebook Marketplace are full of legitimate sellers but also scammers.

How it works:

• They respond to your ad and say they’ll send a courier (e.g. “DHL” or “Zásilkovna”) who will pay you in cash or deposit money straight to your account.
• They send you a “secure payment link” that actually leads to a fake payment page asking for your bank card details.
• Or the reverse: you buy an item, send money to a private account, and the seller disappears.

What to do:

• Always use the platform’s official payment system.
• Set up a one-use-only debit card with your bank (you can create it immediately in your banking app) and use it when you’re unsure about the marketplace

5] “Official-looking” Mail After Registering a Trade Licence

If you register a trade licence (živnostenský list), expect a wave of letters in your mailbox within days. They look official, sometimes with the Czech flag or coat of arms, and tell you to pay a “mandatory registration fee” for inclusion in a business register.

The catch: these companies aren’t official at all. They’re private businesses selling “advertising space” in obscure databases that nobody uses, and they charge thousands of crowns for it.

What to do:

• Ignore them.
• The only official registers are free and run by government institutions.

6] Energy, Telecom & Utility Contract Tricks

Someone knocks on your door offering a better deal for electricity, gas, internet, or phone. They might claim to be from your current provider, but in reality they’re a third-party reseller.

They’ll ask for your current contract or your last bill to “check your tariff” and then sign you up for a new contract without you realising.

What to do:

• Never sign anything on the spot.
• Ask for written information and compare it later.
• If you’re not fluent in Czech, get someone who can translate before signing anything.

More info:

• Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI): Advice for consumers

7] Flathunt Scams

People desperate to find a flat from the limited options in Brno are an easy target for scammers. Beware of paying anything without seeing the flat first and signing a contract.

We’ve heard of scammers offering you the option to pay the deposit+first month rent through booking.com or other such platforms. They promise you can easily get a refund if you don’t like the look of the flat in the end. The link in their email will take you to a booking.com lookalike webpage. You’ll never get that refund back.

What to do:

• Check that the website address matches the official platform.
• But better yet, don’t pay any deposits without seeing the place and signing a contract.
• (We also recommend checking that the person on the contract is the property’s true owner, or someone eligible to rent out in the owner’s stead. You can do so through the Czech land register.)

Falling for a scam doesn’t mean you’re naïve. It means the scammers are very good at what they do. They will change their methods, wording, and tools to catch you off guard. That’s why the most important habit is simple: pause, verify, and only then decide what to do.

 The best defence is knowing the tricks before they hit your phone, inbox, or doorstep.