Police in Riga disguised as a pharmacist to catch 'money mules' involved in fraud, successfully arresting ten individuals for scam activities in February.
On February 25th, a woman contacted the State Police in Latvia after overhearing her husband on the phone with fraudsters who were pretending to be from the bank and then claimed to be from a security service, asking him to hand over his credit card for security reasons. Following discussions with police officers about the best course of action, the man agreed to meet with a 'money mule' sent by the fraudsters at a pharmacy in the Jugla neighborhood of Riga.
The authorities responded swiftly, with officers from the State Police's Northern Division disguising one of their own as a pharmacist by borrowing a lab coat from a local pharmacist. This disguise allowed them to monitor the situation discreetly at the planned meeting location. When the 'money mule' arrived to collect the credit card from the victim, the police quickly apprehended him on-site while another suspected mule attempted to escape in a vehicle, prompting a chase by police units.
This operation is part of a broader effort by the State Police in Latvia to tackle increasing credit card fraud and scams involving 'money mules' — individuals who unknowingly aid fraudsters by facilitating the transfer of stolen funds. The arrest of ten individuals in just one operation underlines the authorities' commitment to fighting organized crime in the region.
