Crooks pocketed a staggering €10 million from Latvians in a six-month period through fraudulent activities.
The State Police in Latvia have launched a campaign named "The Easy Way to Lose Money!" to combat fraudsters who use various communication platforms, psychological influence, and digital tools. The campaign, announced by the Vice President of the State Police, Armands Ruks, on Tuesday, aims to protect citizens from falling victim to these scams.
According to the campaign, voice call fraud was the most common type of fraud in the first six months of this year, with a total of 2,417 such fraud attempts or cases involving more than €5 million. Of these cases, 674 individuals were affected, resulting in real financial losses of almost €10 million, an increase of €1.5 million compared to last year.
In addition to voice call fraud, investment fraud is also on the rise, with the State Police recording 155 cases this year, resulting in losses of over €2.6 million for citizens. Text message scams are another common form of fraud, with losses of half a million euros reported for 328 citizens in the first half of this year alone.
The campaign does not provide specific details about the tactics or images fraudsters are currently using. However, it is known that fraudsters often impersonate representatives of institutions or banks, relatives, or service providers to get personal or financial data, make people transfer money, or install malware on their devices. They may use stories about accidents, 'blocked' accounts, or 'emergencies' to persuade people to act impulsively, which can lead to significant damage.
The campaign has received support from approximately 60 institutions and companies, including banks, courier services, and cinemas. These institutions have agreed to provide information support to the campaign, helping to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers of fraud.
The State Police have not provided information about the number of cases or losses from other types of fraud besides voice call and investment fraud. However, it is known that fraudsters are constantly adapting their tactics and images, often sending fake text messages about "fines", "incomplete payments", or "invoice notifications".
The campaign is intended to help fight against fraudsters who often target seniors and individuals whose mother tongue is Russian. According to Ruks, there is a segment of the Latvian public that does not consume public warnings about scams, often being seniors or individuals whose mother tongue is Russian.
In conclusion, the State Police in Latvia have launched a campaign to combat fraudsters who use various communication platforms, psychological influence, and digital tools. The campaign aims to protect citizens from falling victim to these scams and has received support from approximately 60 institutions and companies. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Seniors and individuals whose mother tongue is Russian are often targeted by fraudsters, as recognized by the State Police in their latest campaign. The EU-wide issue of technology-facilitated crimes, such as voice call fraud, investment fraud, and text message scams, has resulted in significant financial losses for citizens, particularly among seniors.
