The Jurmala precinct of the Riga Regional Department of the State Police has submitted a criminal case to the prosecutor's office with a proposal to initiate criminal prosecution against a citizen of Ukraine linked to telephone fraud. The investigation revealed that he personally collected cash and bank cards from victims deceived by telephone scammers throughout Latvia, which he then either handed over to members of the criminal group or used illegally. At least 18 people across the country, predominantly elderly individuals, suffered from his actions. The total amount of damage amounted to 65,000 euros. A preventive measure has been chosen for the suspect — arrest.
Investigating several criminal cases related to telephone fraud, police officers discovered that a single 'money courier' or 'money mule' was linked to a series of crimes against Latvian pensioners. To expedite the investigation, the Jurmala police combined 18 criminal cases, transferred from various departments across Latvia, into one proceeding.
The fraudsters operated under a common scheme: they called victims, posing as police or bank employees, and lied that illegal transactions were allegedly occurring on the interlocutor's account. The scammers convinced victims that to prevent serious consequences, they needed to hand over money and bank cards to a courier.
Then, a courier sent by the fraudsters would arrive at the victims' homes to collect money and bank cards from the trusting individuals, from which funds were subsequently withdrawn. The courier operated under this scheme in Latvia from March to May 2025. On May 25, officers from the Jurmala precinct, together with colleagues from the 3rd Bureau of the Criminal Police Department, detained the suspect — a citizen of Ukraine born in 1983.
The criminal case is classified under part 3 of Article 177, part 4 of Article 193, and part 3 of Article 195 of the Criminal Law — for fraud committed on a large scale or by an organized group; for the illegal use of someone else's financial instruments or payment means, if committed by an organized group; for the legalization of funds obtained through criminal means, on a large scale or by an organized group.
After gathering sufficient evidence, on October 30 of this year, the criminal case was transferred to the Prigorod Prosecutor's Office to initiate criminal prosecution against the mentioned individual.
The State Police reminds that no person is considered guilty of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law.
Residents regularly report to the police that they have handed over cash or bank cards to couriers sent by telephone fraudsters, or even mailed them. The police warn: under no circumstances should you trust strangers who demand confidential information, internet banking access data, or urge you to hand over money or bank cards to unknown individuals during a phone call. Remember — the police and banks never ask you to hand over cash or bank cards to strangers!
Call your loved ones — before the fraudsters do!
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