Police arrested 11 "money mules" and couriers in cyber-fraud schemes in October
The State Police arrested 11 people in October in connection with cyber-fraud, including minors and pensioners. The victims suffered losses amounting to tens of thousands of euros.
11 "money mules" and couriers in cyber-fraud schemes arrested in Riga and Olaіne
The State Police arrested 11 "money mules" and couriers in October who received cash and bank cards from cyber-fraud victims, unlawfully used payment means belonging to others, and laundered criminally obtained funds, reports tvnet.lv.
Among those arrested are both young people who have not yet reached or only recently reached adulthood, and a pensioner who committed crimes also outside Latvia.
Artificial intelligence advertisements and fake investment platforms
In July of this year, several people believed misleading advertisements distributed on social networks — videos and images created with the help of artificial intelligence in which state officials allegedly promoted profitable investment opportunities. Without verifying the information, residents invested money in the fraudulent platform.
An organised criminal group hired a courier to receive cash from the victims and transport it to addresses specified by group members. The courier received instructions by telephone and via messaging applications; he also transported funds outside Latvia.
On 14 October, the Cyber Crime Combat Division arrested this courier, who was born in 1959. During the investigation, it was established that he had been offered work supposedly with a foreign company — he had never met the employers in person, communication took place remotely, and his duties included receiving and transporting other people's money.
67,690 euros and three bank cards — one of the largest cases
A complaint was registered with Riga's Pārdaugava District Office from a man born in 1976 and his wife: during the period from 12 to 14 October, fraudsters stole 67,690 euros and three bank cards from them.
The fraudsters called multiple times, posing as a bank employee and later as a police officer. They claimed that there were criminal activities occurring in the bank account and that someone wanted to take out a loan in the victim's name — therefore the money and cards should be "handed over to the police". The victims withdrew cash from their accounts and sent the cards to the fraudsters using parcel machine services.
As a result of operational investigation measures, four people born in 2009, 2007, 1997 and 1994 were arrested in Riga and Olaіne in October. The organisers of the crime recruited "money mules" through the messaging application "Telegram". During a search at one of the arrested persons, 2,900 euros were found, which most likely belongs to the victim.
On 26 October, employees of the Pārdaugava District Office arrested in another criminal case a young person born in 2002 who came to the victim to take the money that had been defrauded from her.
Another case — courier arrested for transporting 2,300 euros
A complaint was received by Riga's Eastern District Office from a woman born in 1957 who was defrauded at the end of September using a similar scheme. Fraudsters, posing as bank representatives and police officers, instructed her to declare the cash and place it in an envelope to be given to a courier. On 23 September, the woman handed over an envelope containing 2,300 euros. On 21 October, a young person born in 2008 was arrested for this crime.
Warning and penalties
The police urge residents not to accept job offers that involve receiving, transporting, or handing over other people's money without a clear legal basis — such signs indicate the laundering of criminally obtained funds.
For fraud in a large amount or fraud committed by an organised group, the law provides for deprivation of liberty from two to ten years with or without confiscation of property. For laundering of criminally obtained funds under the same circumstances — from three to 12 years.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)