Crime
AI
Estonia Hit by Fraud Wave Costing Victims €179,200 in 24 Hours
Criminals impersonating bank and police officials defrauded dozens of people across Estonia of roughly €179,200 in a single day, with one 77-year-old woman losing €44,000 after surrendering her bank cards and account access.
- —Estonian police registered 94 reports of telephone and internet fraud in the past day, with victims losing approximately 179,200 euros in 40 cases.
- —Fraudsters frequently impersonated bank, police, or telecommunications company employees to trick victims into revealing PIN codes or handing over cash, with one 77-year-old woman losing 44,000 euros after giving up her bank cards and account access.
- —In a separate incident, a burglary occurred at a Maxima store in Rakvere where a window was broken and a cash register containing 148 euros was stolen.
- —Separately, police in Rakvere mistakenly raided the wrong house while apprehending six individuals suspected of large-scale drug trafficking, injuring two innocent residents.
Recap
The high volume of coordinated fraud incidents in Estonia points to a persistent and organized criminal effort exploiting public trust in institutions. Despite official warnings, the significant financial losses, particularly among the elderly, reveal the effectiveness of these social engineering campaigns and the ongoing challenge for law enforcement to disrupt them.