Fake Police Scams in Bulgaria
Fraudsters impersonating Bulgarian National Police (МВР) or prosecutors threaten Bulgarians with arrest unless they immediately pay fines via bank transfer or Bitcoin ATM.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Police impersonation scams are among the most reported cybercrime categories in Bulgaria, with fraudsters calling victims in Bulgarian and claiming to represent the Ministry of Interior (МВР) or the Prosecutor's Office. The calls are sophisticated, using official-sounding terminology, case numbers, and sometimes spoofed caller IDs that appear to originate from real police stations.
Elderly Bulgarians are disproportionately targeted, with calls claiming a family member has been arrested or is implicated in a crime and requires an immediate payment to avoid charges. The urgency and authority conveyed in the call override critical thinking.
How this scam works on Bulgaria
A caller identifies themselves as an inspector from a named Bulgarian police directorate and informs the victim they are under investigation for financial crimes or tax fraud. An immediate payment via bank transfer or Bitcoin ATM will 'suspend the investigation.' The caller may provide a spoofed callback number that appears genuine.
For family extortion variants, the caller claims a son or daughter has been involved in a road accident or arrest and needs BGN 3,000–15,000 for bail or compensation. The victim is told not to call the family member and to transfer immediately to avoid further charges.
Some operations operate call centres with multiple agents playing different roles: the 'inspector,' a 'senior officer' who confirms the urgency, and occasionally a 'lawyer' offering to handle the case for a separate fee.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited call from police demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest
- Caller instructs you not to hang up or call anyone else while arranging payment
- Payment requested via bank transfer to a personal IBAN or Bitcoin ATM
- Call about a family member's arrest — caller urges you not to call the family member
- Multiple callers escalate urgency by playing different official roles
- Caller ID appears official but the call content involves financial demands
How to protect yourself
- Hang up immediately and call МВР on 112 or the specific directorate's main number
- Call the family member directly on their known number to verify any arrest claim
- Genuine Bulgarian law enforcement never demands payment over the phone
- Never use a Bitcoin ATM to pay a government fine
- Warn elderly relatives — these calls are specifically designed to overwhelm older people
- Report the scam call number to GDBOP
How to report it
- Call МВР at 112 or cybercrime.bg to report the impersonation
- File a complaint with GDBOP at cybercrime.bg
- Report spoofed numbers to the Bulgarian Communications Regulation Commission (КРС) at crc.bg
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office call citizens to demand payments?
No. Neither the Bulgarian police nor the Prosecutor's Office will call to demand payment over the phone. All official communications are handled through formal written notifications or in-person summons. Any payment demand by phone claiming government authority is fraudulent.