On February 17 and 18, 2023, a series of fraudulent phone calls in Vilnius targeted elderly women, leading to the theft of a total of approximately 150,000 euros. Victims were contacted by individuals pretending to be bank representatives, police officers, and utility company employees, who deceived them into handing over large sums of money under false pretenses. The tactics included claiming the need to register their funds due to potential fraud, exploiting their trust in authority figures.

The first victim, a woman born in 1939, lost 20,000 euros after a phone call at around 4:45 PM on February 17. Following her, another victim born in 1949 reported a similar experience, losing 14,000 euros at 11 AM on the same day. Two more victims, both born in 1940, reported losing 11,400 and 31,200 euros respectively just a day later, indicating a troubling trend of targeting the vulnerable. In each of these instances, the victims were persuaded to meet someone who collected the money in person.

These incidents raise significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of consumer protection and the safety of elderly citizens against fraud in Lithuania. The rapid succession of scams suggests an organized effort targeting individuals who may not be as adept at recognizing fraudulent activities. Law enforcement agencies are likely to face increasing pressure to develop strategies that will educate the public and improve the prevention of such crimes in the future.