Clever scammers are showing no limits, and now they’re targeting people through their cars. If you notice damage on your car and find a slip of paper with a phone number under your windshield wiper, beware—this is a new scam. Police are urging people to call them instead of the number left on the paper. The scammers’ creativity seems endless, always trying to stay one step ahead.
“In this particular case, it’s carefully crafted to make it look like something happened that requires immediate action, which could lead to a financial loss if people don’t react calmly. One thing we should avoid is clicking on any links, especially shortened ones that lead to unfamiliar sites,” said IT expert Alen Delić.
Citizens are becoming more cautious. Every day, they say, they receive all kinds of suspicious messages.
“There are so many scams these days; people need to be careful. A colleague of mine found a note with a phone number on his windshield, probably from someone pretending to have hit his car. Of course, when he called, the number didn’t even exist,” said Ivan from Zagreb.
“You have to be careful, protect your accounts, and I avoid sharing my personal information,” added Lucija from Zagreb.
“I’ve encountered scams in general, but not specifically related to cars—though I believe it’s only a matter of time. Since this type of fraud can target a wide range of people, it’s likely to happen soon,” said Borna Barlović, also from Zagreb.
In cases where actual damage occurs and a number is left behind, certain precautions are crucial, one expert noted.
“If it happened to me, I’d call and suggest we meet at their insurance provider’s office to exchange information safely and settle any claims there,” advised Krunoslav Ormuž, a court-certified traffic expert.
The motives of these scammers are always the same: to make money.
“They try to get access to bank card numbers, authorizations to make transactions, or access to mobile apps that can drain funds. They exploit personal data for future attacks or resell this information, especially if it’s sensitive, like health data,” Delić explained.
With digitalization, these scams will only increase. The only way to combat them is through education and vigilance.
