Phone scam statistics in Latvia 2026
Phone fraud is the most common type of fraud in Latvia. This page gathers the latest public data on scam calls, losses, and the most common schemes in 2026.
- 71%
- of residents have received scam calls (2026 survey)
- 423
- phone fraud cases in January–February 2026 alone
- €1.03M
- lost to phone fraud (January–February 2026)
- €1.57M
- in attempted fraud stopped by banks
Most common scam schemes in 2026
Fake couriers
Scammers pose as Omniva or Latvijas Pasts employees who “need to deliver a letter” — a pretext to extract personal data or access to your online banking.
Fake VDD / police
The caller claims to be from the State Security Service or the State Police and demands that you “cooperate” with an investigation by approving a Smart-ID request.
Fake bank and Smart-ID
A “bank employee” warns you about a suspicious transaction and asks you to approve a Smart-ID request or enter your codes. A real bank never asks for this over the phone.
Investment fraud
Promises of “guaranteed returns” on crypto or stocks; in early 2026 alone, 413 cases were recorded with €667,000 in losses.
Frequently asked questions
How common is phone fraud in Latvia?
Phone fraud is the most common type of fraud in Latvia — in a survey, 71% of residents said they had received scam calls.
How much money is lost to scam calls?
In January–February 2026 alone, 423 phone fraud cases were recorded with losses of around €1.03 million. Over the same period, banks stopped €1.57 million in attempted fraud.
How can I protect myself from scam calls?
Do not answer calls from unknown numbers, never share Smart-ID codes or bank details over the phone, and look the number up here or on Google. Your bank and the police will never ask for your details over the phone.
Look up a number by category
Report fraud: cert@cert.lv or call 112.
Sources: VDD, Valsts policija, LSM, Latvijas Banka.