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Room 2a 14/f Chun Wo Commercial Centre, 23–29 Wing Wo Street, Central, Hong Kong
Report the fraud to the Policajný zbor (Police Force of the Slovak Republic) immediately. Provide all available evidence: contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and identity information for the counterparty. The police report is a prerequisite for prosecution and unlocks investigative tools including bank record production, platform disclosure, and cross-border cooperation.
If the fraud involves an investment firm, CASP, forex platform, bank, or payment institution, file a complaint with the NBS. The NBS handles complaints on unfair business practices and supervisory violations in the financial market. For AML/CFT matters, report to FIU Slovakia. For consumer matters, file with the SOI. Regulatory notification creates an enforcement record and may trigger supervisory investigation.
Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to block compromised accounts and cards and initiate recall or chargeback procedures for fraudulent transactions. The NBS handles consumer protection complaints regarding supervised banks and payment institutions.
Check the counterparty’s registration and status through Slovak company registers. For real estate matters, verify cadastre, land registry, title registration, and property records through the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority. Insolvency or dissolution entries inform the enforcement strategy and determine whether asset preservation measures are necessary.
Save all communications, contracts, invoices, payment confirmations, website screenshots, email headers, and transaction records without alteration. Digital evidence is critical for both criminal investigation and civil proceedings and may become inaccessible if platforms delete accounts or the counterparty destroys records. Evidence preservation should begin immediately upon discovery of the fraud.
Criminal complaints filed with the Police Force and prosecuted by the General Prosecutor’s Office initiate formal investigation under Slovak criminal law. FIU Slovakia handles AML-related investigations within the police structure. Relevant offences include fraud, computer fraud, document fraud, identity fraud, money laundering, and fraudulent bankruptcy. Criminal proceedings provide access to investigative tools unavailable in civil litigation – bank record production orders, platform identity disclosure, telecommunications data, and international judicial cooperation through mutual legal assistance treaties and EU instruments.
Civil proceedings before Slovak courts are available for contractual claims, damages, restitution, unjust enrichment, and rescission of fraudulent transactions. Insolvency proceedings are administered by the competent court, with creditor claims filed through the insolvency trustee or bankruptcy administrator. Interim measures can be obtained to prevent dissipation of assets during proceedings. Civil litigation targets the fraudster and, where applicable, institutions that failed to prevent the fraud – including claims against banks and financial institutions for breach of their obligations.
Complaints to the NBS create enforcement records that contribute to supervisory action against the entity. The NBS handles complaints on unfair business practices and violations in the financial market. The SOI handles consumer protection and market control matters. Regulatory proceedings can result in licence suspension or revocation, fines, public warnings, and mandatory corrective measures. Regulatory findings may support civil claims by establishing that the entity breached its supervisory obligations under Slovak financial law.
Criminal complaints filed within hours of discovery give investigators the best chance of tracing funds before they are moved or layered through intermediary accounts. Bank recall mechanisms are most effective when initiated on the same day as the fraudulent transaction. Regulatory notifications filed promptly create contemporaneous records that strengthen both criminal and civil proceedings.
Named counterparties with identifiable assets in Slovakia – bank accounts, real property, registered companies, vehicles – are the most viable targets for civil recovery and enforcement. Where the fraudster operated anonymously or through shell structures, criminal investigation through the Police Force, FIU Slovakia, and the General Prosecutor’s Office is the primary identification tool through bank records, platform data, and telecommunications records.
Where a regulated institution – bank, payment institution, investment firm, forex platform, or CASP supervised by the NBS – failed to comply with its supervisory obligations, institutional liability claims provide an alternative recovery path against a solvent, regulated defendant. These claims do not depend on the fraudster’s identifiability or asset position and are particularly relevant where the fraudster has absconded or dissipated assets.
Contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and digital forensic evidence form the foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil recovery. Incomplete evidence – missing transaction references, deleted communications, unrecorded oral agreements – weakens both the criminal case and the civil enforcement position. Immediate, comprehensive evidence preservation at the point of discovery is the single most important step a victim can take to support recovery.
Fraud recovery in Slovakia operates through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, and regulatory complaints – each channel serving a distinct function in identifying the fraudster, preserving assets, and achieving financial recovery. The NBS is Slovakia’s sole financial market regulator, covering investment firms, CASPs under MiCA, forex platforms, banks, and payment institutions – handling consumer protection and complaints on unfair business practices. FIU Slovakia handles AML/CFT matters within the police structure. The Police Force and General Prosecutor’s Office handle criminal investigation and prosecution across all fraud types. The SOI handles consumer protection and market control.
Speed of reporting determines outcomes across all channels. Criminal complaints filed immediately preserve the investigative window for fund tracing and asset identification. Bank recall and chargeback mechanisms lose effectiveness with each day of delay. Evidence preserved at the point of discovery – contracts, communications, transaction records, digital forensic data – forms the foundation for every recovery action. Formal proceedings are conducted in Slovak, making early engagement of local counsel essential for international clients.
If you suffered financial losses through fraud involving Slovak companies, institutions, or counterparties, contact Veritas Advisory Group to have your legal position assessed.
Veritas Advisory Group provides professional legal and advisory services to victims of investment and trade fraud in Europe. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
