Telephone scammers from Vilnius and Visaginas defraud two victims of €10,000

Two residents of Lithuania have fallen victim to telephone scammers, losing a combined total of €10,000, police said on Saturday.

The Utena County Police reported that a 1940-born woman from Visaginas contacted authorities on Saturday at 14:48 to report that on Friday around 13:00 she had received a call at her home from unknown individuals speaking Russian. The callers identified themselves as police officers and employees of a telecommunications company, and through deception induced her to hand over €10,000.

A 1958-born woman from Vilnius also contacted the Vilnius Police on Saturday after receiving a call on Friday while at home. The callers, who spoke Russian, claimed to be bank employees and police officers and tricked her into handing over €23,900.

Police have launched pre-trial investigations into the incidents.