Phone scammers steal 56,000 euros from two residents

Phone scammers stole a total of 56,000 euros from two residents in Alytus and the Kretinga district, LRT reported, citing the Police Department.

A man born in 1971 contacted Alytus police on Thursday morning. He said he had received a text message on October 7 claiming to be from e-policija and saying he had an unpaid fine. After following a link and entering his online banking details, he lost 16,024 euros.

Another man, born in 1980, contacted the Kretinga district police station the same day. He said he had received a similar text message and lost 40,000 euros after following the link and entering his banking details.

Police have opened pre-trial investigations in both cases. The investigations concern fraud and unlawful access to an information system in the first case, and unlawful use of an electronic payment instrument or its data in the second.