Scammers steal about 56,300 euros from Lithuanian businesses and residents

Scammers took about 56,300 euros from businesses and residents in several parts of Lithuania, police said, according to LRT.

One company lost 19,520 euros after an employee followed a link in a text message claiming to be from police about an unpaid fine and entered online banking details. Tauragė County police received the report on Wednesday.

A second company lost 22,368 euros after receiving a similar message about an unpaid fine. The recipient followed the link and entered banking details. Zarasai District police received the report on the same day.

Residents also reported losses. A man born in 1971 lost 4,800 euros after entering bank details while logging in to an online account, Panevėžys County police said. Two women reported losing more than 691 euros and 1,440 euros after clicking fake links in messages claiming they owed for parking or had violated parking rules.

In another case, a woman born in 1987 said she transferred 2,050 euros to someone offering fortune-telling services online and believed she had been defrauded, Marijampolė County police said.

Šiauliai police reported that a Pakruojis resident born in 1971 lost 2,944 euros after entering login details on a fake Luminor banking website. A Radviliškis resident born in 1970 lost 2,500 euros after following a fraudulent link and entering online banking details.

Pre-trial investigations have been opened into the reported fraud cases.