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Lithuania (LT)

Lithuania is the largest and most southerly of the three Baltic states, a semi-presidential EU republic celebrated for its remarkably preserved Baroque capital Vilnius (UNESCO World Heritage), dramatic coastal dunes at Neringa (also UNESCO), vibrant startup and fintech ecosystem (home of Revolut HQ, Vinted, Nord Security, and Hostinger), rapidly rising living standards, and a resilient population with deep cultural roots stretching back to one of the last pagan civilisations in Europe to adopt Christianity.

Capital: Vilnius
Region: Europe
Language: Lithuanian
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 47)
Emergency: 112
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Lithuania.

Lithuania faces rising digital fraud: the largest share of cybercrime in 2025 was fraud (44 %), and fraudsters systematically forged websites of Swedbank, SEB, VMI, and social services. Three golden rules: never approve a Smart-ID code you did not initiate, never pay a rental deposit before an in-person viewing, and verify investment firms at lb.lt before transferring money.

Smart-ID and bank credential phishing

critical

Criminals impersonate Lithuanian banks (Swedbank, SEB, Luminor) and government authorities (VMI tax office, Sodra social insurance, VSDFV, Migration Department) via email, SMS, and phone calls. Fraudsters systematically forged the websites of SEB and Swedbank at the end of 2025, directing victims to fake portals to harvest Smart-ID codes, banking passwords, and personal data. According to a Swedbank survey in February 2026, 54 % of Lithuanian residents had already encountered phone scammers that year.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited message claiming urgent action is needed on your bank or tax account
  • - URL does not exactly match the official domain — "swedbank-lt.com" is not "swedbank.lt"
  • - Request to confirm a Smart-ID code you did not personally initiate
  • - Pressure to act within 24 hours to avoid account suspension or legal action
  • - Message contains spelling errors or asks you to call a number not listed on the official site
What to do: Never approve a Smart-ID request you did not initiate. Access banking and government portals by typing the URL directly — never via a link in an SMS or email. Report to your bank's fraud line immediately. Report to CERT-LT (nksc.lt) and to the Lithuanian Police at policija.lt or call 112.

Investment fraud and fake cryptocurrency platforms

critical

Lithuania's fintech reputation attracts fraudulent investment schemes promising 10–30 % monthly returns. Criminals use social media advertising, fake celebrity endorsements, cold calls, and WhatsApp groups, sometimes using Lithuanian-registered company names as a veneer of legitimacy. Some operate as boiler rooms. Romance-investment hybrid scams ("pig butchering") are also documented, where a romantic contact introduces the investment opportunity after weeks of building trust.

How to spot it
  • - Guaranteed high returns with "no risk" — impossible in legitimate investing
  • - Unsolicited contact about an investment opportunity via social media or phone
  • - Company not listed in the Bank of Lithuania register of licensed entities (lb.lt)
  • - Funds difficult to withdraw; new "taxes" or "verification fees" demanded to release money
  • - Platform uses names containing "Lithuania," "Baltic," or "EU" to suggest regulatory oversight
What to do: Verify all investment firms at lb.lt/finansiniai-tarpininkai before investing. Never invest based on unsolicited contact. Report to the Bank of Lithuania (lb.lt) and the Lithuanian Police cybercrime unit (cyberpolice@policija.lt or +370 5 271 7933).

VMI and government authority impersonation

critical

Criminals send emails and SMS messages claiming to be from VMI (Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija — Lithuanian Tax Inspectorate), Sodra (social insurance), VSDFV, or other authorities, stating the recipient has a tax debt, is owed a refund, or has been selected for benefits. They link to fake portals to capture personal and banking data. In 2025 Lithuanian police specifically warned about fake electricity company and bank impersonation calls used to intimidate victims.

How to spot it
  • - Official VMI email always ends in @vmi.lt — any other domain is fraudulent
  • - VMI and Sodra never send payment links or request banking details via SMS or email
  • - Unsolicited call claiming you owe money and will face "legal action" if you do not pay immediately
  • - Caller uses intimidation: claiming you are "under investigation" or "financing the Russian military"
  • - Urgency: "Pay within 48 hours or face a fine"
What to do: Log in to vmi.lt or sodra.gov.lt directly (type the URL) to check your actual account status. Official Lithuanian authorities communicate via registered post and their own portals — never via payment links. Report to VMI at vmi@vmi.lt and to the Police at 112.

Rental scams (advance payment fraud)

warning

Fake rental listings appear on Aruodas.lt, Skelbiu.lt, Facebook Marketplace, and other platforms. Scammers post attractive listings with stolen photos at below-market prices and request an advance deposit before any viewing. The "landlord" is always abroad or too busy to show the property in person. Vilnius's competitive rental market, especially for expats, adds pressure to commit quickly.

How to spot it
  • - Price significantly below market rates for the area and property quality
  • - Landlord unavailable for in-person viewing and always has a reason (abroad, travelling, busy)
  • - Request for deposit or first month's rent before any viewing or lease is signed
  • - Professional listing photos that appear on multiple different listings
  • - Communication only via WhatsApp or email — no Lithuanian phone number for a call
What to do: Never pay any money before physically viewing the apartment. Meet the landlord in person and verify their right to rent the property (ask for ownership documents or a valid power of attorney). Report fake listings to the platform and to the Police.

Romance scam

warning

Criminals create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, building relationships over weeks before requesting money for medical emergencies, flights, or investments. According to Swedbank, 148 of its Lithuanian clients were victims of romance scams in 2024, losing over €300,000; Luminor reported €380,000 in romance scam losses in the same period. Expats may be more vulnerable due to social isolation when newly arrived.

How to spot it
  • - Relationship moves very fast — strong declarations of affection very early
  • - Person is never available for an in-person meeting and always abroad for work
  • - Camera is always "broken" or connection always "too poor" for a real live video call
  • - Profile photos appear on reverse image search attributed to someone else
  • - First request for money — always framed as an emergency
What to do: Reverse-image-search all profile photos. Never send money to someone you have not met in person. If you have already sent money, stop immediately and contact your bank. Report profiles to the platform and to the Police.

Job offer fraud and identity document harvesting

warning

Fake job listings target newly arrived expats and job-seekers with attractive remote or local work offers. Scammers request "registration fees," upfront equipment deposits, or detailed personal documents (passport scan, asmens kodas / personal identity code) for fake background checks. Some are advance-fee scams; others use the documents for identity theft. Unverified LinkedIn and CV Online listings are common vectors.

How to spot it
  • - Any request for payment — registration, training, equipment deposit — before starting work
  • - Legitimate employers never charge candidates
  • - Requests for passport scans or personal ID code before an interview
  • - Salary far above market rate for the advertised role
  • - Company appears fake, unregistered, or unverifiable online
What to do: Never pay to apply for a job. Never send passport or ID scans to unverified employers. Verify any company at the Registrų centras company register (rekvizitai.lt — free). Report to the Lithuanian Labour Exchange (uzt.lt) and Police.

SIM swap and one-time password (OTP) theft

warning

Fraudsters convince a Lithuanian mobile operator to transfer your phone number to a SIM they control, intercepting your bank's SMS one-time passwords. They may first gather your personal information through phishing or social engineering. Once they control your number, they can reset online banking passwords. Lithuanian banks have been actively warning about this method.

How to spot it
  • - Your phone suddenly loses mobile network signal for no apparent reason
  • - You receive an SMS about a SIM card change you did not request
  • - You can no longer receive calls or SMS messages even though others can reach you
  • - Unexpected account activity alerts arrive from your bank while your phone has no signal
What to do: If your phone loses signal unexpectedly, contact your mobile operator immediately to check whether a SIM swap was requested. Contact your bank to freeze accounts if you suspect compromise. Set up additional security measures (PIN on SIM card, app-based authentication rather than SMS). Report to your mobile operator and the Police (112).

Reporting

Where to report: Lithuanian Police cybercrime unit: cyberpolice@policija.lt or +370 5 271 7933 | policija.lt | Emergency: 112. Bank of Lithuania (financial fraud): lb.lt. National Cybersecurity Centre (NKSC / CERT-LT): nksc.lt. State Consumer Rights Protection Authority (VVTAT): vvtat.lt.

Consumer helpline: VVTAT consumer consultations: +370 5 262 6760 (Mon–Thu 08:00–17:00, Fri 08:00–15:45). Bank of Lithuania consumer helpline: +370 5 268 0029. All contacts are free of charge.