Moldova moves to create national anti‑fraud centre and tighten telecom scam laws

The Moldovan Parliament’s Economy, Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved a draft law submitted by the Party „Our Party” aimed at curbing telephone‑based fraud. The bill obliges electronic‑communication operators to detect and block spoofed calls, bans the anonymous sale of prepaid SIM cards and imposes fines of up to 1,500 conventional units, with possible suspension of operations for up to a year for serious violations.

Parliament also adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a permanent National Anti‑Fraud Focal Point. The proposed centre would coordinate prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of digital scams across ministries, law‑enforcement bodies, the National Bank, telecom operators and other relevant agencies. According to the parliamentary commission, more than 95 % of fraud cases rely on social‑engineering techniques, with total victim losses reaching about 272 million lei in 2025. The focal point is intended to operate online in real time, share information among institutions, block fraudulent numbers and platforms, and enforce stricter penalties for digital fraud.