In addition to long-term investments in security technologies, banks are therefore continually expanding the range of tools designed to help customers identify or stop suspicious transactions in a timely manner. These include, for example, alerts about high-risk payments, the option for additional verification, intervention by a bank employee, or features that allow customers to verify whether the caller is actually an employee of their bank.

“Thanks to advanced security systems, banks are able to stop the vast majority of suspicious transactions and have been investing billions of crowns in client protection over the long term. However, scammers are increasingly relying on social engineering. They create a sense of urgency, instill fear, and pose as bank employees, police officers, or investment advisors. Their goal is to convince the victim to confirm a payment themselves, disclose sensitive information, or transfer money to a supposedly secure account. That is why, in addition to technological protection, prevention and people’s ability to recognize a scam in time remain absolutely essential. This is precisely what the #nePINdej! campaign has long focused on,” says Aleš Blažek, president of the Czech Banking Association and CEO of the ČSOB Group.

Can you spot a scam in time? The new Kybertest will put you to the test

Precisely because people continue to fall for scammers’ tricks despite banks’ increasing security measures, the Czech Banking Association (CBA) is launching a new, improved version of the CyberTest at www.kybertest.cz. Anyone can use it to check how resilient they are to attacks by online scammers and whether they can recognize the ten most common types of scams. The CBA regularly updates the test to reflect attackers’ latest tactics and now also incorporates elements of artificial intelligence, including deepfake videos featuring well-known personalities who have consented to the use of their likeness for educational purposes.

Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. However, vishing and phishing remain among the most common

Fraudulent phone calls, text messages, and fake websites continue to be among the most common methods cybercriminals use to try to get their hands on clients’ money. Moreover, their attacks are becoming increasingly convincing, and they are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to prepare them.

In terms of the number of cases, phishing, smishing, and vishing are among the most prevalent. However, in terms of the amount of damage caused, investment scams are particularly dangerous. In these scams, perpetrators promise unrealistically high returns, using professional-looking websites, fake investment platforms, or fabricated charts showing the alleged growth of the investment. They often first convince the victim to send a small amount and then gradually pressure them into making additional, significantly larger payments.

“Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and with the advancement of artificial intelligence, it’s harder for people to tell what they can trust. Our survey showed that 61% of people mistook AI-generated content for real content, and it is precisely these people who are nearly five times more likely to be targeted and fall victim to fraud. That is why, in addition to consumer vigilance, technology must also keep pace. Thanks to a combination of AI, data, and multi-layered protection, we’ve managed to reduce card payment fraud in Europe by 24% over the past three years, and since the end of 2024, Visa has blocked more than 25,000 fraudulent merchants. “But technology alone is not enough—what’s essential is collaboration across the entire ecosystem and the ability of each of us to pause in time and verify a suspicious situation,” says František Jungr, director of Visa’s product division for Central and Eastern Europe.

Online scammers targeted 10 billion crowns this year. Banks saved their clients over 8 billion.