Police detained 16 'money mules' sent by telephone scammers 0 10

These individuals, for a reward, collected withdrawn money and bank cards from the public and handed them over to other persons involved in the crime. All the detainees are residents of Latvia, including minors.

In one recorded case, the victim received calls at the end of October from individuals impersonating first an employee of JSC 'Latvenergo' and then a police officer, who demanded that she disclose her banking details and withdraw cash from her account.

The woman withdrew 1,690 euros from her bank account and handed it over to the scammers' courier. After that, she was asked to take out a loan of 4,000 euros. Suspecting fraud, the victim contacted the police, and within three days, officers from the Riga Pardaugava division detained six individuals acting as 'money mules' and passing the stolen money to each other. The detainees were born between 1990 and 2009.

On November 6, officers from the Riga Eastern division, together with the Zemgale regional division, detained another 'money mule' born in 2008 at the moment of receiving money from the victim in a case of telephone fraud. It turned out that the detained young man was involved in deceiving at least one other person.

Police seized cash amounting to 7,530 euros from the detainee, which he had not yet managed to pass on to other members of the organized crime group, as well as a mobile phone, two payment cards belonging to other individuals, a gas pistol, and ammunition.

In addition, officers from the Latgale regional police have detained five money couriers in recent weeks, the Zemgale regional division detained one, and the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Police Department detained three more.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated in all cases, primarily classified as fraud, large-scale fraud, and as part of an organized group, and for the legalization of income obtained through criminal means, committed on a large scale or as part of an organized group.

The police strongly warn that they continue to actively combat 'money mules', and such actions are punishable by several years of imprisonment under the law.

Law enforcement urges citizens not to agree to offers of easy profit, especially if a job involving the receipt and delivery of packages is offered along with an employment contract. Parents are advised to monitor whether their high school children are earning income illegally; if children are involved in criminal activities, it is best to contact the police.

Given the activity of scammers, law enforcement advises exercising increased caution and warning elderly relatives and acquaintances about such scams. Recommendations for safety and various types of fraud can be found on the police website.