Scammers use fake medical portal and dinosaur festival to lure Latvians

Scammers have used fake websites to steal money and promote an event that was not taking place, as artificial intelligence makes such schemes more convincing, LSM reports. In one case, a clone of the medical data portal Datamed helped criminals steal more than 66,000 euros from at least 18 people, according to the State Police.

The fake Datamed page appeared in Google sponsored results. People searching for the real portal were directed to the clone and, after entering their login details, gave scammers access to their online banking accounts.

Datamed first received reports of the scam last week and urged people to be cautious on its website. The company received official confirmation after the State Police posted about the case on social media. Board chair Iluta Riekstiņa said it was the first scam of this kind known to the company.

In a separate scheme, a fake website advertised a two-week dinosaur festival in Liepāja, Daugavpils and Riga, promising family activities including rides and fossil-digging areas. The page listed Ķīpsala Exhibition Centre in Riga as a venue, but preparations there were under way for a different exhibition. The centre’s management learned of the supposed festival only the day before, director Jānis Zvirbulis said.

Zvirbulis said artificial intelligence made it possible to quickly create convincing information. The festival was also promoted as taking place at the Liepāja and Daugavpils Olympic centres, he said.