People are becoming increasingly savvy online, but cybercriminals are also honing their AI tools, and the stakes are no longer trivial. Ágnes Sütő, co-project manager of KiberPajzs and executive director of the Investor Protection Fund (Beva), which is participating in the program, Dr. Sándor Töreki, Major General and Deputy National Police Chief for Criminal Affairs, and Ferenc Kardos, Executive Director of the Media Union Foundation, on March 24, 2026, in Budapest at the Police Administration Center.
According to the latest data from the Hungarian National Bank, the number of successful online financial frauds and the resulting losses are declining on an annual basis, which is a positive trend. Increasing public awareness is playing an increasingly significant role in this: customers are recognizing suspicious signs more frequently and handling their data more responsibly—this conscious behavior is now one of the most important pillars of defense. Advanced security solutions—including the Central Fraud Detection System and AI-based banking monitoring—also play a key role in mitigating risks.
Investment scams are among the most common forms of online fraud. A hallmark of these scams is that the perpetrators typically promise high returns and unrealistically quick payoffs, claiming that the customer can quickly and easily multiply their investment.
Online investment scams don’t start with a “scam” warning flashing on the screen, but rather by making everything seem “too good to be true and too urgent”! Scammers now operate with professional ads, “advisors,” and interfaces that appear credible, and they want only one thing: for you not to think, but to transfer money!
The current focus of the “You Are the Key!” campaign by the Media Union Foundation and the Hungarian Banking Association is on the increasingly common investment scams. These online scams usually begin with persuasion, pressure, and emotional manipulation, and the goal is simple: to get the victim to transfer money themselves, often in increasingly larger amounts.
What should you do if something goes wrong?
If you suspect that someone has fallen victim to a scam, it’s important to act as soon as possible:
Call your bank immediately and report: “I have been the victim of fraud.” Ask the bank to take action, such as reversing the affected transactions and blocking access;
Save all evidence: messages, emails, links, screenshots, and transaction receipts;
File a report with the police (in person, by phone at 112, or online);
If you granted remote access, revoke it and ensure you have virus protection and change your passwords.
Important warning: online investment scams are often followed by a “recovery scam,” in which someone poses as a “lawyer” or “government official” and promises to recover the stolen funds in exchange for money. In reality, no one asks for money to recover your stolen funds; if they ask for a “fee,” it’s another scam!
There’s no shame in asking for help
Victims of online investment scams often feel ashamed, which is why they wait too long to ask for help—even though the sooner a report is filed, the greater the chance of preventing further losses. Victim support is available at vansegitseg.im.gov.hu or by calling the Victim Support Centers’ toll-free number (06-80/225-225), and prevention tips can be found at Kiberpajzs.hu.
Translated with deepL.