Romanian fraudsters swindle seniors and a child out of thousands of lei

In Alba Iulia, an 89‑year‑old woman was deceived on 30 June 2026 after a caller posing as her son and a medical staff member asked for money to buy a medical device for her son. She handed over 40,000 lei, after which police opened an investigation for fraud and are seeking to locate the perpetrators.

In Buzău, a 12‑year‑old girl was tricked between 26‑30 June 2026 by a 33‑year‑old woman claiming to be a clairvoyant. The impostor demanded 23,000 lei and various jewellery items in exchange for “reading” the child's future. Police conducted a search of the suspect’s home and launched a fraud investigation.

Both cases illustrate the use of deceptive phone and personal‑visit scams targeting vulnerable individuals in Romania.