Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Croatia

Fraud, theft and forgery charges in Croatia are brought under several offences of the Criminal Code: fraud (prijevara), including computer fraud (računalna prijevara) and fraud in business dealings; theft (krađa) and aggravated theft (teška krađa); and forgery of a document (krivotvorenje isprave) or of an official document. English speakers search for a fraud charge, a theft or shoplifting charge, card or online fraud, or a forged document. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Fraud, Theft, Forgery etc”. This page is information, not legal advice.

Who this page is for

Tourists stopped at a shop exit, foreign residents accused over a business deal, a rental or a loan, people whose card or account was used in an online scheme, drivers and applicants found with a document that turns out to be false, and families of a person who has been arrested. Someone who has been defrauded or robbed will find information under legal representation for crime victims.

The three groups of offences

• Fraud. Deceiving someone into a loss for one's own gain; computer fraud covers manipulating data or payment systems. Fake holiday-rental adverts and card fraud are typical online cases.
• Theft. Taking someone else's movable property; breaking in, carrying a weapon or a high value make it more serious. Taking property by force or threats is robbery (razbojništvo), a different and graver offence.
• Forgery. Making a false document, altering a genuine one, or knowingly using a false one — for example a licence, an insurance certificate or an employment paper shown to an authority.

How the case runs

A criminal complaint (kaznena prijava) goes to the State Attorney's Office, which investigates with the police and decides whether to charge. Some minor cases depend on the injured party's request. Repaying the damage early can affect how the case is handled and the sentence. A foreign suspect may be ordered not to leave Croatia, or to hand over a passport, while the case is open.

What a defence lawyer does

The lawyer explains the charge, attends the questioning, reviews bank, camera and document evidence, raises the lack of intent where the facts support it, such as a document obtained in good faith, negotiates compensation where it helps, and represents the client at trial or in an agreement with the prosecution where the law allows it. A conviction appears on a criminal record certificate. More on criminal law in Croatia.

Questions and answers

Is shoplifting a crime in Croatia?

Yes, theft is an offence under the Criminal Code whatever the value, although for goods of small value the case may depend on the shop's request, and an early settlement is often discussed. A lawyer checks how the case was recorded.

I used a document that I did not know was false. Is that forgery?

Forgery requires knowledge and intent. How the document was obtained, from whom and at what price is what the State Attorney and the court look at.

Can I leave Croatia while I am under investigation?

Only if no precautionary measure forbids it. Leaving does not end the case, and summonses continue to the address given.