Elviss Strazdiņš warns of rising fraud and real estate scams in Latvia

Cybersecurity expert and programmer Elviss Strazdiņš has highlighted various fraudulent schemes currently targeting individuals in Latvia. During a TV24 broadcast, Strazdiņš discussed how even informed individuals can fall victim to scams due to gaps in specific knowledge.

One instance involved a person losing 5,000 euros to a fake invoice while attempting to purchase an ATV, despite having previously watched educational content regarding invoice fraud. Strazdiņš noted that being aware of one type of scam does not protect a person from all variations.

Additionally, Strazdiņš detailed a sophisticated real estate scam where a fraudulent sale was finalized through a notary. In this case, a buyer purchased an apartment only to have it placed under arrest two months later after the original owner claimed the sale was coerced. Strazdiņš warned that notaries only verify the authenticity of signatures and the absence of physical coercion, which does not prevent such fraudulent transactions. He also noted that police have reportedly declined to initiate cases in similar instances reported by real estate sellers.