Telephone scammers from Vilnius and Visaginas defraud victims of €33,900

Two women in Lithuania have fallen victim to telephone scammers who stole a combined total of €33,900, police said on Saturday.

According to Utena County Police, a 1940-born woman from Visaginas reported the fraud on Saturday at 14:48. She told police that on Friday around 13:00, while at home, she received a call from unknown individuals speaking Russian. The callers claimed to be police officers and telecommunications company employees, and tricked her into handing over €10,000.

A 1958-born woman from Vilnius also reported a similar incident on Saturday. She told Vilnius Police that on Friday, while at home, she received a call from unknown Russian-speaking individuals who identified themselves as bank employees and police officers. The scammers deceived her into transferring €23,900.

Police have launched pre-trial investigations into the fraud cases.