Investment Scams in Czechia
Unlicensed investment platforms and boiler-room operations targeting Czech savers with fraudulent CZK and EUR trading products.
Part of: Investment Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Czechia's growing investor class and rising interest in equity and crypto investing have attracted fraudulent platforms that operate without CNB authorisation. Scammers run sophisticated Czech-language websites mimicking licensed investment firms and use cold-call tactics to pressure Czech savers into depositing CZK or EUR.
CNB's investor alert list is updated regularly, and Czech police have dedicated financial-crime units. Yet cross-border enforcement is slow and individual victims often lose the equivalent of multiple months' salary.
How this scam works on Czechia
Social-media adverts target Czech IP addresses with fabricated endorsements by Czech entrepreneurs or TV personalities for automated trading systems. After submitting contact details, a broker calls in fluent Czech within minutes.
Victims are guided through a Wise or bank transfer to fund a dashboard that shows impressive CZK returns. Pressure mounts to draw down Czech penzijní spoření (pension savings) for 'higher performance'.
Withdrawal triggers invented CNB compliance fees or Czech capital-gains tax pre-payment demands. A secondary wave of recovery scammers then contacts victims claiming to retrieve lost CZK for a fee.
Common red flags
- Firm not on CNB's register at cnb.cz
- Celebrity endorsement for a trading product in a Czech social-media ad
- Guaranteed CZK returns above Czech government bond rates
- Pressure to liquidate penzijní spoření or stavební spoření (building savings)
- Recovery agent contacts you after a loss, claiming to retrieve funds for a fee
- No verifiable Czech IČO on the investment firm's website
How to protect yourself
- Verify firms at cnb.cz before any investment
- Cross-check the company IČO at rzp.cz or justice.cz
- Ignore cold investment calls — licensed Czech firms do not cold-solicit
- Never liquidate pension or state-supported savings based on cold-broker advice
- Consult Sdružení obrany spotřebitelů or a licensed Czech investiční poradce
- Report suspicious firms to CNB before depositing
How to report it
- Report to CNB at cnb.cz/cs/o_cnb/cnb_informuje/podejte-podnet
- File a trestní oznámení with Policie ČR at policie.cz
- Report recovery scammers as a separate fraud incident
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an investment firm calling me about a Czech opportunity is licensed?
Search the firm's name directly at cnb.cz rather than trusting any licence number given over the phone. If it doesn't appear on CNB's register, don't send any money regardless of how convincing the pitch sounds.
A 'recovery agent' contacted me after I lost money to a Czech investment scam — should I use them?
Be very cautious — this is frequently a second wave of fraud targeting people who have already lost money once. Report any recovery-fee request to Policie ČR as a separate incident rather than paying it.
I can't withdraw my CZK from a trading platform — is there anything I can do?
Stop making any further payments the platform requests to 'unlock' withdrawal, since these fees are designed to extract more money rather than release funds. Contact your bank about the original transfer and report the platform to CNB.
Is penzijní spoření protected if I transfer it to an online investment platform?
No. Transferring penzijní spoření to an unregulated online platform removes all state-backed protections and tax benefits. Czech pension contributions should only be managed through licensed penzijní společnosti.