Five men accused of defrauding residents of more than €470,000

LRT reported that prosecutors have sent to court a case against five young men accused of defrauding residents of Vilnius and nearby areas of more than €470,000 over several months last year.

The men are also accused of unlawfully obtaining and using payment cards and card details, and of impersonating public officials or people performing public administration functions. The defendants are two Ukrainian citizens born in 2006, and one citizen each of Lithuania, Kazakhstan and Moldova, born in 2003, 2004 and 2000 respectively.

Investigators say members of the organised group called victims while posing as doctors or police officers. They claimed a relative had caused a traffic accident in which other people were seriously injured, then demanded money for the victims’ treatment or to avoid liability. Frightened callers gave the men their home addresses and handed over cash when supposed officials arrived; some also surrendered bank cards.

There are 45 recognised victims in the case, which comprises 104 alleged offences. It has been transferred to the Vilnius City District Court for trial.