National bank impersonators arrested in Moldovan anti-fraud sweep
Moldovan authorities have dismantled an organized criminal network specializing in bank impersonation scams, following operations in Chisinau and Balti. Five suspects, including four members of a single ring detained by special forces, are in custody for extracting over €50,000 from targeted citizens.
In the first flashpoint, police arrested a 37-year-old man in Balti during a sting operation. The suspect was intercepted while attempting to collect 100,000 MDL (approx. €5,102) in cash from a female victim.
The 43-year-old woman had already surrendered €21,633 to the ring. Fraudsters operating over the phone pretended to be National Bank of Moldova officials, convincing her that cash withdrawal was the only way to secure her savings from a fraudulent loan.
In a parallel crackdown in Chisinau, the Botanica Police and prosecutors arrested four additional syndicate members aged between 18 and 50. Supported by the Fulger special forces brigade, officers caught the suspects red-handed while receiving €12,755 from another victim.
This specific cell had previously forced a 65-year-old man to contract a 220,000 MDL bank loan. The victim then transferred the entire sum in a single transaction to the fraudsters, who posed as anti-money laundering investigators.
House searches yielded mobile phones and cash reserves linked to the operations. The suspects face large-scale fraud charges, carrying prison sentences of four to eight years and fines reaching up to EUR 22,959.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
