Bulgaria warns of rising phone spoofing scams targeting victims

Bulgarian authorities and cybersecurity experts are alerting the public to a surge in phone‑spoofing scams. In one case, a woman named Vanya received a call appearing to come from her personal doctor’s number, with the caller demanding immediate payment and threatening severe medical consequences. Another individual, software developer Oleg, was mistakenly accused by police of running a crypto‑phone scam after his number was used in spoofed calls.

The fraud relies on caller‑ID manipulation that makes the incoming number display a trusted name, while the caller can also modify their voice in real time. Victims are urged to hang up and call back the displayed number to verify the request. The national communications regulator says it is working on new measures to curb the practice, and a cyber‑security expert noted that there is currently little that individuals can do beyond verification.

The scams have affected multiple people across different regions of Bulgaria, highlighting the need for increased awareness and regulatory action.