The Office of the Prosecutor General recently published its customary annual statistics on crime in Hungary. According to the data, the overall number of criminal offenses has increased significantly over the past two years (by 6.2% in 2023 and by 31% in 2024). An even more pronounced increase can be observed in the number of economic crimes: compared to the previous year, such offenses rose by approximately 24% in 2023 and by around 35% in 2024. A major shift is also visible in the structure of economic crime: while traditional forms of crime (such as budget fraud or bankruptcy-related offenses) are declining, the number of cybercrime offenses is rising dramatically.
Budget Fraud and Bankruptcy Offenses – A Downward Trend
In recent years, the number of budget fraud (tax fraud) cases has declined. Compared to the 1,189 cases registered in 2022, only 999 such offenses were recorded in 2024, representing a 16% decrease. This trend is attributable to the increasing efficiency and effectiveness of tax authority audits and enforcement measures year by year. The expanding use of digital reporting systems (such as online invoicing, online cash registers, e-VAT, EKÁER, etc.), intensified monitoring of corporate networks, and closer cooperation between the tax authority and the prosecution service have made it increasingly difficult to carry out classic VAT fraud schemes, invoice factories, and other practices harmful to the state budget.
A similar trend can be observed in bankruptcy-related offenses: compared to 2022, the number of such crimes fell by 22% by 2024. This decline, however, is somewhat misleading, as in many cases the offenses are not uncovered due to the extreme difficulty of detection. Perpetrators often carefully destroy or falsify evidence before investigations even begin, “ghost” companies, and conceal assets.
Money Laundering – Prosecutors Must Brace Themselves
According to the statistics, the number of money laundering cases have surged dramatically. Compared to 542 cases in 2022, as many as 1,284 such offenses were registered in 2024, representing a 137% increase.
The reasons behind this rise are multifaceted. First, there is a definitional shift: certain acts are now classified as money laundering rather than receiving stolen goods. Second, the increase may also be explained by more effective detection. However, the real driving force behind the proliferation of money laundering offenses is the growing prevalence of online fraud. Illegal proceeds obtained through internet scams are laundered through various banking transactions. A common method involves the use of so-called money mules, whose accounts receive – typically fraud-derived – funds that are then transferred onward in exchange for a commission.
Cybercrime – Exponential Growth
Crimes committed in the online space – collectively referred to as cybercrime – pose unprecedented challenges for law enforcement authorities. The number of offenses involving the circumvention of protective measures of information systems increased more than thirtyfold from 2022 to 2023 (from 14 to 481), followed by a further 61.5% increase from 2023 to 2024.
Through phishing schemes, perpetrators attempt to fraudulently obtain confidential data or access credentials electronically – typically by phone or email. A common technique involves fraudsters posing as bank employees and persuading victims to approve transactions or install remote access software by referring to alleged account irregularities.
Defense against so-called BEC (Business Email Compromise) fraud is becoming an increasingly serious challenge. In such cases, perpetrators impersonate trusted individuals – such as company executives or suppliers – to induce employees to carry out financial transactions or disclose sensitive information. Protection against these scams is particularly difficult because emails usually contain no suspicious links or attachments; they consist solely of well-crafted text-based requests, which traditional spam filters often fail to detect. The challenge is further compounded by the fact that perpetrators conduct thorough reconnaissance and send highly personalized messages. Moreover, offenders are increasingly using artificial intelligence–based tools to deceive victims, including the creation of highly realistic manipulated audio or video recordings (deepfakes), which can easily mislead targets.
Corruption – A Steep Rise
The government’s anti-corruption strategy primarily focuses on strengthening detection, transparency, and prevention, with particular emphasis on the traceability of public funds, the scrutiny of public procurement procedures, and the development of whistleblower protection systems. According to the prosecution’s report, the impact of the strategy is noticeable in several areas: data exchange has improved, inspections have become more targeted, and investigative methodologies have adapted to new risks. Nevertheless, the statistics clearly indicate a worsening situation. The number of corruption-related offenses rose continuously between 2022 and 2024: 1,003 cases were registered in 2022, 2,000 in 2023, and 3,834 in 2024.
Of note is the explosive increase in cases of economic bribery, which surged from 792 to 3,163 cases, representing a 299.4% increase.