A 74-year-old woman in Plungė, western Lithuania, handed over nearly €100,000 in cash to phone scammers – her own and her husband’s savings – despite warnings from her bank not to do so, police said. Authorities say the case represents a record sum extorted by scammers in Klaipėda County this year.
According to police, the woman gave a total of €99,200 to the fraudsters over several transactions. The scammers manipulated her for weeks, and when she could not withdraw enough cash locally, she travelled by taxi to Klaipėda to access tens of thousands of euros at a bank there.
“She was called and told there was a threat, that the money had to be withdrawn and handed over to the authorities,” said Zigmas Turskis, adviser at the Klaipėda County Police Department’s Property Crimes Division.
“Bank staff even tried to warn her, she filled out forms explaining why she needed the money. But people sometimes don’t believe banks or the police and still hand the cash over to scammers.”
The woman only reported the scam to police in March, a month after her final transaction in mid-February. The scammers even orchestrated a taxi ride to another city to ensure she could access the funds.
Police noted that younger and middle-aged adults are more likely to fall victim to investment scams promising quick wealth, while seniors – especially those living alone – are targeted by callers posing as law enforcement or telecom employees.
Local authorities and social services emphasise senior education and preventive measures. Jolanta Puidokienė, head of Plungė’s Social Support Department, said officials distribute informational materials and organise workshops to raise awareness among the elderly.
There have been cases where social workers successfully prevented seniors from losing money. “A fraudster came to collect fake money from a senior’s home, but a visiting social worker scared him off,” said Milda Kepalienė, coordinator at the organisation Senjoras.
Psychologists note scammers deliberately target older adults, who may struggle to adapt to rapid technological and societal changes. “This group is less prepared to live in a modern, fast-changing society, and scammers exploit that,” said Professor Gediminas Navaitis.
Police warn that scammers are constantly adapting their tactics to overcome increasing public awareness. “They now persuade victims to purchase investment gold, create advance payment invoices, and deliver gold bars via couriers to bypass bank safeguards,” Turskis said.
Authorities predict that cases could rise in April, when some pensioners receive withdrawals from their private pension funds.
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