Latvia Scams: Online, Investment & Phishing Fraud Guide
Common scams in Latvia and how to report them to the State Police, PTAC, and CERT.LV.
Emergency number: 110 (police), 112 (EU emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Latvia has one of Europe's highest internet adoption rates and a thriving digital economy, accompanied by a heavy volume of online fraud. The most damaging pattern is the fake bank or police call, run fluently in both Latvian and Russian to match the country's bilingual population: 'security officers' from Swedbank, SEB or Citadele — or 'investigators' from the State Police — warn of an attack on the account and talk victims into approving Smart-ID confirmations, transferring savings to a 'safe account' or installing remote-access software. Since Smart-ID approvals function as signatures, one prompted confirmation can authorise a full account takeover, and older Russian-speaking residents are disproportionately targeted.
Everyday volume comes from the standard Baltic set: parcel-fee smishing impersonating Latvijas Pasts and Omniva, phishing for bank logins, fake online shops, and marketplace fraud on ss.lv and other classifieds — 'buyers' sending counterfeit courier payment links that harvest sellers' card details, and 'sellers' taking transfers for goods that never ship. Investment fraud advertised through cloned news portals and deepfaked public figures leads to fake trading platforms with persistent telephone 'account managers', while task scams over Telegram and romance-driven pig-butchering complete the picture.
The State Police (Valsts policija) accepts crime reports online, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) handles trader complaints, and CERT.LV takes cybersecurity incidents. When money has moved, the bank's fraud line is the first call — everything else follows.
Common scams
- Phishing and smishing impersonating Latvian banks
- Parcel-delivery fee smishing impersonating postal or courier services
- Fake online shops and non-delivery fraud
- Investment and crypto platform scams
Tourist-specific scams
- Overcharging unofficial taxis in Riga Old Town
- Distraction theft and pickpocketing in busy tourist areas
- Ticket resale scams for concerts and major events
Online shopping scams
- Phishing targeting Latvian bank login credentials
- Fake e-commerce and marketplace fraud
- Crypto and 'AI trading' investment scams
Job scams
- Fake job offers requiring upfront registration or document fees
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Bogus work-abroad agencies charging for transport and 'guaranteed' placements
Romance scams
- Dating-app grooming leading to cryptocurrency investment requests
- Social media romance with escalating financial demands
- Pig-butchering relationships funnelling victims onto rigged trading platforms
Investment scams
- Unlicensed forex and crypto broker platforms
- Clone firm investment scams impersonating regulated Latvian financial institutions
- Cloned news portals and deepfaked figures fronting fake trading sites
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately if money was transferred
- Call the State Police on 110 or 112, or report online at vp.gov.lv/en/how-report-police
- Report cyber incidents to CERT.LV for technical cybersecurity assistance
- File consumer complaints with PTAC at ptac.gov.lv or call +371 67388645
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank straight away, using the number printed on your card or its official app rather than any number given to you by the person who made contact. Latvian banks can attempt to freeze fraudulent transfers most effectively in the first few hours after you report, so do not wait until morning — instant SEPA payments settle in seconds. Say clearly that you were deceived into authorising the payment, ask for it to be recalled and the receiving account reported, and write down the reference number. If you approved a Smart-ID or eParaksts prompt at a caller's request, or allowed remote access, say so explicitly and have sessions terminated and those credentials suspended, not just the card blocked. Card details entered on a fake courier page mean a reissued card and chargeback disputes. A State Police report reference then strengthens the bank's investigation.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is PTAC in Latvia?
PTAC (Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centrs) is Latvia's Consumer Rights Protection Centre. It handles complaints about fraudulent traders, unsafe products, and unfair commercial practices. Complaints can be submitted online at ptac.gov.lv or by calling +371 67388645.
How do fake bank calls work in Latvia?
Callers posing as Swedbank, SEB or Citadele security — or as State Police investigators — claim your account is under attack and ask you to approve a Smart-ID prompt, move money to a 'safe account' or install remote-access software. All three hand over your money. Hang up and call the bank on the number from its card or app; banks never ask customers to confirm prompts they triggered.
What should sellers on Latvian classified sites watch for?
'Buyers' who agree instantly and send a courier or payment link where you must enter card details to 'receive' the money. That page authorises a charge against you instead. Genuine incoming payments arrive without you entering card details anywhere — keep deals inside the platform and refuse external links.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance