- Fraud recovery in Slovenia is available through criminal proceedings filed with the Slovenian Police (Policija) and the Office of the State Prosecutor General, civil litigation before Slovenian courts, and regulatory complaints to the Securities Market Agency (ATVP) and Bank of Slovenia (Banka Slovenije) depending on the fraud type.
- The ATVP (Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev) supervises the securities market, investment services, and capital market participants – handling investor complaints, publishing warning notifications for investors, and overseeing investment firms, brokers, and forex/CFD platforms operating within the investment services framework.
- The Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Money Laundering Prevention is the central AML/CFT authority – maintaining and supporting the register of virtual currency service providers under the Slovenian AML act and handling suspicious transactions, money laundering, and asset concealment reports.
- Slovenia’s prosecution system includes the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office for the most complex crimes – covering organised fraud, serious economic crime, and complex cross-border schemes alongside the district state prosecutors’ offices.
- The practical language for formal filings is Slovenian. The Bank of Slovenia, ATVP, government portals, and GURS have English-language pages, but official complaints and procedural documents should be filed in Slovenian.
Fraud recovery in Slovenia operates through three parallel channels: criminal proceedings initiated through the Slovenian Police (Policija) and the Office of the State Prosecutor General, civil litigation before Slovenian courts, and regulatory complaints to the ATVP or Bank of Slovenia. The ATVP supervises the securities market, investment firms, and capital market participants. Bank of Slovenia supervises banks, payment institutions, and related financial entities. The Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Money Laundering Prevention is the central AML/CFT authority maintaining the register of virtual currency service providers. The Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office handles the most complex criminal cases. Police annual reports identify online fraud and misuse of payment cards as current crime trends. Recovery outcomes depend on the fraud type, the speed of criminal complaint filing, the identifiability and asset position of the fraudster, and whether institutional liability claims are available against regulated entities. Formal proceedings are conducted in Slovenian.
Types of Fraud in Slovenia and Where to Report
Investment Company Fraud
The Securities Market Agency (Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev / ATVP) supervises the securities market, investment services, and capital market participants in Slovenia. ATVP annual reports confirm supervision of investment service providers and handling of investor complaints. The ATVP publishes warning notifications for investors.
Where an investment firm, broker, capital market participant, or unlicensed entity offered investment products or services in violation of Slovenian securities law, complaints are filed with the ATVP. For criminal fraud – misappropriation of invested funds, false representations about returns, Ponzi structures, or misleading investment offers – a criminal complaint is filed with the Slovenian Police (Policija). The Office of the State Prosecutor General handles prosecution through the district state prosecutors’ offices, with the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office handling the most complex cases. Civil proceedings for damages are brought before the competent court.
Cryptocurrency Fraud
The Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Money Laundering Prevention is the central AML/CFT authority in Slovenia. Under the Slovenian AML act, the Office maintains and supports the register of virtual currency service providers. Where a crypto project effectively offers investment services, tokenised investment products, or other regulated financial market services, the ATVP is the competent authority. Where the case involves banks, payment services, foreign exchange operations, or conduct issues with supervised banking and payment entities, Bank of Slovenia (Banka Slovenije) is competent.
Where crypto fraud involves suspicious transactions, money laundering, or asset concealment, reports are filed with the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Money Laundering Prevention – officially designated as the central authority for such matters. Where the scheme constitutes unlicensed investment activity, complaints are filed with the ATVP. For crypto fraud, online investment scams, or wallet and account fraud, criminal complaints are filed with the Slovenian Police. The Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office handles complex and organised schemes. Civil proceedings for damages are brought before the competent court.
Forex and Online Trading Fraud
The ATVP exercises supervisory authority over investment services and capital market participants, including forex and CFD platforms operating within the investment services regime.
Where a forex or CFD provider is authorised or claims Slovenian authorisation, complaints are filed with the ATVP – which accepts reports of misleading investment activity and verifies participant status. For criminal fraud involving manipulated platforms, boiler room operations, blocked withdrawals, or impersonation of brokers, criminal complaints are filed with the Slovenian Police. The Office of the State Prosecutor General handles prosecution. Civil proceedings for damages and restitution are brought before the competent court.
Real Estate Fraud
Slovenia does not have a dedicated financial regulator for the real estate sector. The Market Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia is the state authority for consumer protection and supervision of companies and entrepreneurs – with its official mandate including supervision of companies and resolving consumer complaints. The Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia (GURS / geodetic administration) maintains the land cadastre, building cadastre, real estate register, and related property records.
Where a dispute involves consumer deception, unfair commercial practices, or misconduct by a real estate agency or intermediary, complaints are filed with the Market Inspectorate. For verification of cadastre, title records, real estate register entries, and property data, GURS is consulted. Where fraud involves forged documents, double sales, or misappropriation of deposits, criminal complaints are filed with the Slovenian Police and referred to the Office of the State Prosecutor General. Civil proceedings for recovery, rescission, and damages are brought before the competent court.
International Trade Fraud Involving a Slovenian Company
Where an international transaction with a Slovenian company results in fraud – fake supplier, forged invoices, diversion of payment, or non-delivery with fraudulent intent – criminal complaints are filed with the Slovenian Police and referred to the Office of the State Prosecutor General. Where cross-border suspicious transfers or money laundering are involved, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Money Laundering Prevention is notified.
The ATVP, Bank of Slovenia, Market Inspectorate, or GURS is notified depending on the sector. Civil proceedings for contractual claims, damages, and interim relief are brought before the competent court.
Fraudulent Bankruptcy
Where a company in which funds were invested enters insolvency and there are indicators of fraudulent conduct – fraudulent bankruptcy, concealment of assets, or false reporting – insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings are administered by the competent court. Creditor claims are filed with the insolvency administrator or bankruptcy estate.
Criminal complaints for fraudulent bankruptcy, concealment of assets, and false reporting are filed with the Office of the State Prosecutor General, with the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office handling the most complex cases. Where suspicious asset transfers or money laundering are involved, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Money Laundering Prevention is notified. Where the entity is an issuer or supervised capital market participant, the ATVP is notified.
Prepayment Fraud and Non-Delivery
Where a buyer made prepayment and received no goods or services – and the supplier acted with deception from the outset – criminal complaints are filed with the Slovenian Police and referred to the Office of the State Prosecutor General.
Where the dispute qualifies as a consumer transaction involving trader misconduct, the Market Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia is the competent authority. Civil proceedings for recovery of the prepayment, contractual damages, and interest are brought before the competent court.
Phishing and Cyber Fraud
Phishing, online fraud, credential theft, and social engineering attacks are reported to the Slovenian Police (Policija) for formal criminal complaints – official police materials identify online fraud and misuse of payment cards as current crime trends. The Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office handles complex cybercrime cases.
Where phishing resulted in compromised banking credentials or unauthorised transactions, the servicing bank or card issuer must be contacted immediately. Where the incident concerns a bank, savings bank, payment institution, or other supervised entity, Bank of Slovenia is notified – Bank of Slovenia maintains an official complaint channel for individuals.
Financial Statement Fraud
Where a company in which funds were invested engaged in fraudulent financial reporting – false accounting, misleading investors, or concealment of income – criminal complaints are filed with the Slovenian Police and referred to the Office of the State Prosecutor General, with the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office handling the most complex cases.
If the company is an issuer, investment firm, or other capital market participant under ATVP supervision, the ATVP is notified in parallel. Civil proceedings for investor damages are brought before the competent court.
Romance Fraud and Social Media Fraud
Romance scams and social media fraud – including impersonation, fabricated identities, emotional manipulation for financial extraction, and online extortion – are reported to the Slovenian Police (Policija) for formal criminal complaints. The Office of the State Prosecutor General handles prosecution.
Where money was transferred or card payments were made, the servicing bank or card issuer should be contacted immediately for urgent recall and blocking.
Banking Fraud and Credit Card Fraud
Bank of Slovenia (Banka Slovenije) supervises banks and other financial entities and maintains a complaint procedure for users of financial services. Bank of Slovenia accepts complaints against banks and other supervised entities through its official complaint channel.
The first step in any banking or card fraud matter is immediate notification to the servicing bank or card issuer to block the card and account and dispute the unauthorised transaction. Where the institution fails to resolve the complaint adequately, complaints are filed with Bank of Slovenia through its complaint procedure for financial services users. Criminal complaints for misuse of payment cards, online banking fraud, or unauthorised transactions are filed with the Slovenian Police and referred to the Office of the State Prosecutor General. Civil proceedings before the competent court are available for recovery.
Immediate Steps After Discovering Fraud in Slovenia