HOW MODERN SCAMS WORK
Scammers often use multi-step communication strategies, where each conversation builds either trust or fear. These schemes typically unfold as follows:
- First call - a "telecom company representative" offers a service or warns about suspicious activity or a problem.
- Second call - an "eSignature or bank representative" asks to confirm identity or carry out a "security procedure."
- Third call - a "police or security officer" insists that a payment or transfer be made "for investigative purposes."
TYPICAL SCAM METHODS
Here are the most common tactics scammers use to gain trust and extract personal data or money:
- Fake phone numbers that appear to belong to official institutions.
- Requests to confirm Smart-ID or eSignature actions you did not initiate.
- Prompts to install "security software" that gives the scammer control over your device.
- Long, multi-step conversations that can stretch over days or even weeks.
- Forged documents, including fake bank statements or copies of employee IDs, used to build trust.
- Requests to hand over your bank card or PIN to a "courier" who will deliver a "new card".
- False claims about loans or virus threats that "must be resolved immediately".
RED FLAGS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Always be cautious if during a conversation:
- The caller uses psychological pressure - urging you to act quickly, or emotional manipulation/gaslighting using public information about your family, business, or friends.
- You’re asked for personal data or access to financial tools.
- You're told not to inform your bank, the police, or your family.
- Smart-ID prompts show a mismatched recipient name or unexpected activity.
- You’re promised a reward, prize, or "rescue" from a made-up crisis invented by the scammer (like loans, theft, or viruses - scammers "protecting from scammers").
STATISTICS: WHERE ARE THE RISKS?
Latvian State Bank data for 2024 shows a troubling trend - more than 30,000 scam-related transactions were recorded, totaling 11.7 million EUR in losses:
- Card payments account for 73% of all scam transactions, but only 15% of the total losses. The average loss was 81 EUR.
- Credit transfers make up 27% of cases, but 85% of lost funds. The average loss per case was 1,213 EUR.
- Notably, 83% of card scams occurred without secure authentication. Credit transfer scams often happened with the victim’s voluntary action - after scammers convince them the transaction is legitimate.
Estonian Information System Authority revealed that 6,515 impactful cyber incidents were recorded in 2024 (up from 3,314 in 2023) - nearly double the previous year. Phishing and scam websites accounted for 4,224 cases, making up two-thirds of all impactful incidents. The number of phishing and scam websites grew 2.5x year-over-year.
Common scams included:
- Fake banking sites used to steal PIN codes and empty accounts.
- Fake delivery messages impersonating courier services, leading to stolen card details.
- Investment scams involving fake profits, escalating deposits, and eventual loss of funds.
- Scammers often emptied accounts and even took out loans in victims’ names.
Ministry of National Defence in Lithuania reported that a couple years back, in 2023 scams made up 50% of all cybercrime. The most frequent types were:
- Advance payment scams - victims were tricked into transferring money based on fake online ads.
- Investment scams - caused 4.8 million EUR in damages, often promoted via social media.
- Fake SMS and messaging scams - used to steal credentials or payment info.
- Credential stuffing - scammers used leaked passwords to access accounts.
Private individuals were the main targets, with total scam losses reaching 11.4 million EUR.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
To keep scammers from gaining access to your data and finances, follow these basic rules:
- Never confirm a Smart-ID action unless you're 100% sure why it's appearing.
- Don’t share personal or financial data, even if the caller claims to be from a government institution.
- Verify everything using official websites or contact your bank directly.
- End the call immediately if you hear threats or feel pressured and rushed.
- Don’t give access to your devices or card information.
- Always use multi-factor authentication.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN SCAMMED
If you've fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank immediately - block your payment cards and change all your passwords (eSignature, Smart-ID, etc.). Save all the evidence - calls, messages, documents - and report the incident to the State Police so that a criminal case can be initiated.
Even if you weren’t harmed, but just witnessed and attempted scam, report it anyway - this way you can help protect someone else in the future.
PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS
- Train employees on the latest scamming techniques.
- Review procedures for approving money transfers.
- Establish a clear company policy for handling suspicious situations.
- Use multi-factor authentication at all system levels.
- Conduct regular IT security audits.
- Stay vigilant and up-to-date with the information about scams and fraud from the state authority official sources.
Numeri employees will never ask you to make sudden payments or transfers to unverified accounts. If you receive a suspicious request from someone claiming to represent Numeri - asking you to transfer money, reveal passwords, or approve Smart-ID actions - immediately end the communication and contact us via official channels. When in doubt, always double-check!
Author: Lonija Grīnfelde, Marketing Specialist
