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Latvia (LV)

Latvia is a parliamentary republic and EU member state on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus.

Capital: Riga
Region: Europe
Language: Latvian
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 48)
Emergency: 112
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Latvia.

Latvia has seen sustained growth in cybercrime and financial fraud. In 2025, customers of Latvia's four largest banks were defrauded of 12.22 million euros across 6,667 fraud cases. Fraud was the dominant driver of cyber incidents in Q4 2025, and CERT.LV recorded a historically high 923 manually processed cyber incidents that quarter. The three golden rules for expats: your bank will never call asking for your internet banking password or eParaksts codes; always physically view a property before paying anything on ss.lv or Facebook; and verify any investment platform at bank.lv before transferring money. As an EU member state, Latvia provides 14-day cancellation rights on distance and off-premises contracts under the EU Consumer Rights Directive. Latvia is part of the SEPA payment zone.

Bank impersonation calls — Latvia's most prevalent fraud

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Fraudsters call pretending to be Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, or Luminor security teams, claiming suspicious activity on your account. They create urgency and try to obtain your internet banking credentials, eParaksts codes, or one-time passwords (OTP). These calls use caller ID spoofing — the number displayed may appear to be your bank's real number. In 2025 alone, Latvia's four largest bank customers lost over 12 million euros to fraud, with telephone impersonation the leading method.

How to spot it
  • - Your bank will NEVER call and ask you to confirm your internet banking password, PIN, or eParaksts codes
  • - Urgent claims of "suspicious activity" or "your account will be blocked" create pressure to act immediately
  • - Caller ID can be spoofed — a call appearing to come from Swedbank's real number can be a fraudster
  • - Requests to install "security software" or to grant remote access to your device are always a scam
  • - You are asked to authorise a transaction or "cancel a fraudulent payment" by entering codes
What to do: Hang up immediately. Call your bank on the number printed on the back of your bank card or from the bank's official website — never the number from the suspicious call. Report to the State Police (110) and your bank's fraud team immediately. Swedbank fraud: +371 67 444 444; SEB: +371 26668777; Citadele: +371 67010000.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams

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Highly sophisticated investment fraud targeting Latvia residents and expats with promises of high returns from "cryptocurrency platforms", "Forex trading", or "investment funds." Victims are shown convincing profits on fake dashboards, encouraged to invest more, then find they cannot withdraw funds. In the first two months of 2026, 413 investment fraud cases caused losses of 667,395 euros in Latvia. Romance investment scams — where a fake online relationship leads to investment advice — are also a growing vector.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited contact via social media, LinkedIn, or messaging apps offering "exclusive" investment opportunities
  • - Guaranteed or unusually high returns (5–20% monthly) — these are impossible in legitimate markets
  • - Pressure to invest quickly before "the opportunity closes"
  • - Platform not found in Latvijas Banka's licensed entity register at bank.lv — FKTK merged into Latvijas Banka in January 2023
  • - A new online romantic contact starts advising you on investments after several weeks of conversation
What to do: Verify all investment platforms at bank.lv (licensed entity register) before investing anything. Never invest money on the advice of someone you met only online. Report to Latvijas Banka (bank.lv), the State Police (110 or vp.gov.lv), and PTAC (ptac.gov.lv).

ss.lv marketplace fraud

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Latvia's main classifieds site (ss.lv) is widely used but frequently targeted by fraudsters. Common schemes: non-existent goods where seller disappears after receiving payment; fake rental listings where deposits are collected for non-existent apartments; and overpayment scams where a "buyer" sends more than the agreed price and asks you to refund the difference (the original payment is fraudulent and reverses later).

How to spot it
  • - Seller refuses to meet in person or allow inspection before payment
  • - "Pay first, receive later" for high-value goods
  • - Price significantly below market value for the item category
  • - Buyer sends a payment for more than the agreed amount and asks for a refund of the difference
  • - Communication moves immediately off ss.lv to WhatsApp or personal email
What to do: Always meet sellers or buyers in person for significant transactions. For rentals, insist on physically viewing the property before any payment. Never refund a "buyer overpayment" — this is always a scam. Report fraudulent listings directly to ss.lv and file a report with the State Police (vp.gov.lv).

Phishing via email and SMS

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Fraudulent emails and SMS messages impersonating banks (Swedbank, SEB, Citadele), the State Revenue Service (VID), PMLP, or parcel carriers (DPD, DHL, Omniva) with links to convincing replica login pages designed to steal credentials and card details. CERT.LV recorded a historically high 923 incidents in Q4 2025, with fraud the primary driver. Attackers increasingly impersonate CSDD, government institutions, and major banks.

How to spot it
  • - Urgent language: "Your account will be blocked", "A package is held — pay a delivery fee now"
  • - Sender address that does not match the real organisation's domain
  • - Link URL that does not go to the official domain (e.g., swed-bank.lv vs. swedbank.lv)
  • - Request to enter banking credentials, card details, or OTP codes urgently
  • - Tax refund notifications requiring immediate action through a link
What to do: Never click links in unsolicited emails or SMS. Access your bank and government services by typing the URL directly into your browser. Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts. Report phishing to your bank and to CERT.LV (cert.lv) — Latvia's cybersecurity authority.

Rental and housing fraud (Riga market)

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Fake rental listings on ss.lv and Facebook where fraudsters collect deposits for non-existent or already-let properties. Particularly targets newly arrived expats urgently seeking accommodation in Riga. Fraudsters impersonate legitimate property owners using photos of real properties scraped from legitimate listing sites.

How to spot it
  • - Rent price significantly below Riga market rate for the location and apartment type
  • - Landlord claims to be abroad and cannot do a viewing — insists on advance payment to "hold" the property
  • - Photos that appear on multiple listings or match images from real estate portals
  • - Request for deposit transfer via cryptocurrency, Western Union, or Revolut before any documentation
What to do: Never pay any rental deposit without first physically viewing the property in person. Verify property ownership at zemesgramata.lv (the Latvian Land Registry). Insist on a signed written lease agreement before transferring any money. Report fraudulent listings to the State Police (110 or vp.gov.lv) and to PTAC (ptac.gov.lv).

Overcharging in Riga's Old Town tourist areas

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Some bars, clubs, and restaurants in Riga's Old Town (Vecrīga) have been reported to overcharge tourists — presenting inflated bills, adding undisclosed cover charges, or applying prices not shown on the menu. International visitors are disproportionately affected.

How to spot it
  • - Menu prices not clearly displayed, or printed in very small text
  • - Drinks brought without being ordered ("complimentary") that then appear on the bill
  • - Bill significantly higher than expected based on the menu you were shown
  • - Cover charges not disclosed when entering the venue
What to do: Always ask for a printed menu before ordering. Keep track of items ordered and their prices. Dispute any bill if charged for items not ordered — ask for an itemised receipt. Report serious overcharging to PTAC (ptac.gov.lv, +371 65452554). Under the EU Consumer Rights Directive, you have the right to clear pricing before completing a transaction.

Job offer scams targeting newcomers

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Fraudulent job offers targeting people newly arrived in Latvia. Victims are asked to pay for "work permits", "background checks", or "equipment" before work that never materialises. Variants include human trafficking recruitment disguised as legitimate job offers, particularly targeting non-EU nationals.

How to spot it
  • - Job requires you to pay any fees upfront before starting employment
  • - Salary offer is far above market rate for the stated role
  • - Employer cannot be found in the business registry at ur.gov.lv
  • - Hiring process is suspiciously fast with no real interview or skills assessment
  • - Vague job description with contact only by WhatsApp or unverifiable email
What to do: Verify all employers at ur.gov.lv. Legitimate employers in Latvia never charge employees for work permits or equipment. Report suspected trafficking or exploitation to the State Police (110). Use the National Employment Agency NVA (nva.gov.lv) for verified job listings. Report fraudulent job ads to the State Labour Inspectorate (vdi.gov.lv).

Reporting

Where to report: State Police of Latvia (Valsts policija): vp.gov.lv, emergency 110, non-emergency +371 67075333. CERT.LV (cybersecurity incidents): cert.lv. PTAC (Consumer Rights Protection Centre, consumer fraud): ptac.gov.lv, +371 65452554. Latvijas Banka (financial market supervision, financial fraud): bank.lv.

Consumer helpline: PTAC consumer helpline: +371 65452554 (working hours), ptac.gov.lv. Bank fraud — contact your bank's 24/7 fraud line immediately: Swedbank +371 67 444 444; SEB +371 26668777; Citadele +371 67010000. Cybercrime: cert.lv.