Cybercrime Southeast Europe Newsletter No. 95

Online Scams Are Not Untouchable – Arrests Are Increasing

Despite the common perception that online scams are “untouchable,” recent cases in Serbia show the opposite – authorities are increasingly identifying and prosecuting these types of crimes.

In a recent operation carried out by the Cybercrime Unit, four individuals were arrested on suspicion of organizing a so-called “WhatsApp” scam, through which a large number of Serbian citizens were defrauded of approximately 8 million dinars. This type of scam is typically based on the abuse of communication channels and trust, often involving fake identities and manipulative messages.

This case is particularly significant because it demonstrates that even when a scam appears simple and widespread, it is often backed by an organized structure – but also that such structures are not beyond the reach of law enforcement.

At the same time, it is important to emphasize that results like these do not happen by chance. In many situations, reports submitted by citizens represent the first step that enables authorities to identify patterns, connect cases, and initiate concrete investigations.

For this reason, such situations should not be ignored or viewed as a “lost cause.” Even when it seems that the damage cannot be recovered, reporting a scam can have a broader impact and contribute to the identification and prosecution of those responsible.

Cases like this clearly show that the fight against cybercrime is producing results and that there is a real legal framework for the protection of citizens – but also that active involvement by victims is a key element of that process.

Your DefendMe Team