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Summary for: Fake reviews and phone support helped online scams net CZK 11.5 millionThree men have been charged over alleged online shopping scams that cost customers and businesses across Czechia CZK 11.5 million, Olomouc police announced Oct. 7.
Investigators say the fraudulent shops sold electronics, sporting goods and construction materials before the operation shifted to a scheme targeting manufacturers seeking a scarce industrial plastic. In total, police identified 267 individual customers and 51 companies affected.
The accused foreign nationals, ages 29, 33 and 37, face up to eight years in prison if convicted, ČTK reported. The youngest is in custody, while the oldest remains at large and is subject to a European arrest warrant.
Fake shops offered discounts and customer service
Police began tracking the activity in mid-2023, when the men now ages 29 and 37 allegedly established three fraudulent online shops in Czechia.
The pair divided responsibilities and advertised goods at prices below those of competitors, according to Jiří Prečan, head of the cybercrime department. Customers paid in advance, but their purchases were never delivered.
Investigators say the websites appeared credible because the suspects created positive reviews and provided telephone customer support. Police attribute CZK 5.5 million in losses to this first phase.
After approximately six months, the activity stopped. Police say the 33-year-old joined the other two men in January 2025, when they established a fake shop offering a difficult-to-source polymer material.
The suspects allegedly posed as a prospective customer, approaching manufacturers to request components made from that material. They then directed the companies to their own website to buy the supplies needed to fulfill the order.
According to investigators, the shop had no material to sell. Over two months, 51 companies allegedly lost a combined CZK 6 million.
Cyberfraud losses rise despite prevention campaigns
Prečan said the alleged crimes were committed from Slovakia and partly in Czechia, making international cooperation important to the investigation.
The announcement comes as reported cyberfraud losses in the Olomouc region approach CZK 280 million for the first nine months of 2026. Police recorded more than 1,000 offenses, with losses already exceeding the CZK 276 million reported throughout 2025.
Officials said common schemes include fake bank employees, fraudulent investments, deceptive online shops and links to websites that resemble legitimate services.
For shoppers, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority provides a searchable list of risky online shops, including sellers whose identities or contact details cannot be verified. The consumer watchdog cautions that the list is incomplete: A website’s absence does not mean a purchase is safe.
