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
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.