VÚB launches STOP Fraud campaign

Up to 89% of Slovaks believe they would not fall for a scam. However, according to data utilized in VÚB banka's new campaign, 34% have already fallen victim to fraud at least once. Therefore, the bank is introducing a new platform called STOP Fraud, which aims not only to warn people about risks but also to teach them how to act in specific situations. This long-term project will include the website stoppodvodom.sk, practical guides, interactive tests and simulations, a database of real cases, and a new podcast series.

Scammers Increasingly Rely on Manipulation

Data from VÚB banka shows that the number of transaction frauds remains high. Despite warnings, clients still fall prey to scammers posing as bankers, police officers, financial administration representatives, or family members in distress. Criminals contact potential victims using SMS, emails, phone calls, social media, and increasingly AI tools, which allow them to be more persuasive.

For this reason, simply knowing the list of common scams is no longer enough. It is crucial to recognize a manipulative situation and react correctly before making a payment or providing sensitive data under pressure.

VÚB banka's new security platform, STOP podvodom, focuses precisely on the moment a person must quickly evaluate whether a situation is real or a scam. The project is based on a simple principle: it is not enough to repeatedly tell people to be careful. The goal is to build habits through practical situations, emotions, interactive elements, and easy-to-remember procedures that help a person stop and pay attention at the critical moment.

"A scam can work precisely because it does not feel like a scam at that specific moment. Attackers exploit emotions, trust, authority, and time pressure. Our goal is not to scare people, but to provide them with simple, practical tools that help them pause, verify the situation, and avoid making decisions under pressure," says Juraj Praženka, Head of the Fraud Prevention Department at VÚB banka.

Fake Grandchildren, Great Love, or Guaranteed Yields

The creative campaign STOP podvodom, created in cooperation with the advertising agency MUW Saatchi & Saatchi, works with specific phrases that people might actually hear or receive in a message during a scam. For example: "I will come to you as soon as you send me money for the plane ticket," "We guarantee a 300% profit without any risk," or "Grandma, a friend is coming for the money, just throw it out the window."

One Place for Advice, Podcasts, Tests, and Real Cases

The hub of the project will be the website stoppodvodom.sk. The platform's content will expand gradually and will include:

• Practical guides and recommendations categorized by specific type of fraud
• Interactive tests and simulations for people to check their ability to recognize risky situations
• A database of real fraud cases
• Scamcheck, a tool for quick verification of suspicious situations
• A new podcast series featuring experts

The platform will also feature a monthly video podcast of the same name, STOP podvodom. In each episode, a VÚB banka fraud prevention expert will host other internal or external specialists. The podcast will cover topics such as e-commerce shopping scams, how the bank responds to suspicious transactions on client accounts, and the risks associated with AI fraud. The podcast will be hosted by tech journalist Roman Calík from Techbox.sk.

The podcast will be available on the platform's website, YouTube, and Spotify, and its content will also be shared on social media.

"With scams, technology meets human psychology. Therefore, it is not enough to just know the individual types of attacks. It is also important to understand how attackers create pressure and why practically anyone can fall for a well-prepared scam. The combination of technological know-how and practical education is what can help people handle these situations better," Praženka concludes.

Although communication for the STOP podvodom campaign will primarily take place online and on social media, specific security recommendations will also appear on ATMs, LCD screens, and other communication spaces within VÚB banka.