Moldova (MD)

Fraudsters call posing as employees of Moldovan banks (MAIB, Victoriabank, Moldindconbank, OTP Bank Moldova, Eximbank, or others), government agencies, Moldcell, or courier companies. They claim there is suspicious activity on your account, a package requiring payment, or a fine to clear, and attempt to obtain card numbers, passwords, or online banking credentials. Call centres operating from Ukrainian cities have been specifically identified as perpetrators. In 2025 alone, Moldovans lost 272 million lei — parliament established a special commission to investigate.

Scammers advertise attractive apartments on 999.md or Facebook at below-market prices, claim to be abroad, and ask for a deposit via bank transfer to "hold" the apartment before a viewing. Once paid, they disappear. Alternatively, a real landlord accepts a cash deposit with no written contract, then denies the agreement later. This is particularly common in Chișinău's Centru, Botanica, and Rîșcani neighbourhoods where expat demand concentrates.

Illegal street money changers (valutişti) operate near Piața Centrală (Central Market), Piața Verde, and other central Chișinău areas, offering better-than-official ariary rates for MDL. They use sleight of hand, distraction, or false counting to short-change customers. This is illegal under Moldovan law and victims have no recourse.

Fraudulent agencies advertise jobs in Moldova requiring upfront "processing fees," "visa fees," or "insurance" for work permits. No job exists. A variant specifically targets workers from Asia and Africa with construction or domestic service jobs that do not materialise. Legitimate Moldovan employers process work permits through ANOFM at no cost to the employee.