Lithuanian Police and Telia warn of rising fraud and social engineering

Telia and the Lithuanian Police have launched a joint initiative to protect citizens, particularly seniors, from rising fraud. They recommend displaying a prevention memo in homes to help identify scammers.

Data from the Financial Crime Prevention Competence Centre shows that in the second quarter of this year, nearly 4,000 fraud cases were recorded in Lithuania, a 66% increase compared to the first three months. While many operations were intercepted, criminals successfully stole approximately 5 million euros from individuals and companies during this period.

Scammers are increasingly using social engineering to manipulate emotions such as fear, urgency, and trust. Common tactics include impersonating police officers, bank employees, or utility workers via video calls or SMS. In recent incidents in Alytus and Druskininkai, victims lost thousands of euros through fake websites and fraudulent visits from individuals posing as officials. The Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau emphasizes that the primary threat is no longer technical hacking, but the manipulation of people to reveal sensitive data.