Family loses deposit in property fraud scheme targeting house co-ownership share

A family in Slovakia fell victim to a fraud scheme after paying a deposit for a co-ownership share in a family house, with the money ending up in the hands of a scammer. Police have launched a criminal investigation into the case. The incident highlights ongoing risks in Slovakia's property market, where fraudulent schemes targeting real estate transactions continue to affect unsuspecting buyers who lose deposits and down payments to criminals posing as legitimate sellers or intermediaries.