Investigation Completed Into Moldovan Money Mule Detained in Preiļi
Latvia's State Police have finished investigating a fraud case in Preiļi municipality, in which a Moldovan national born in 1992 collected 6,000 euros in cash from a woman as a "money mule". The case was passed to prosecutors on 2 October for criminal prosecution.
The State Police in Latvia have completed their investigation into a Moldovan citizen born in 1992, who was detained in Preiļi last autumn on suspicion of involvement in a telephone fraud scheme. The case materials were handed to the prosecutor's office on 2 October 2026 so that it can start criminal prosecution.
How the fraud unfolded
Officers of the Ziemeļlatgale precinct of the State Police Latgale Regional Board learned that a resident of Preiļi municipality had received phone calls from unidentified people posing as employees of a bank and a telecommunications company. The callers gained the woman's trust by deception and persuaded her to hand over money supposedly to keep it safe.
The woman transferred 9,000 euros. Later a "money mule" — a person who collects and passes on money obtained by fraudsters — came to her home. He stated a four-digit code, and she gave him 6,000 euros in cash in an envelope.
Detention and charges
Police opened a criminal case immediately and, during operational measures, detained the Moldovan national on 23 September 2025. The investigation established that the man laundered criminally obtained funds for personal gain.
The criminal proceedings cover four offences: fraud, attempted fraud, laundering of criminally obtained funds, and attempted laundering. They are classified under Section 195(2), Section 177(1) and Section 15(4) of the Criminal Law. The State Police note that nobody is considered guilty until guilt is proven in the manner prescribed by law.
Police advice to the public
Police urge people to end a conversation at the slightest suspicion of fraud and never to disclose online banking access data (Smart-ID), passwords or authorisation codes. If data may have been compromised, access to the bank account should be blocked and the bank contacted. People should not install remote-access software at a stranger's request, transfer money to so-called "safe accounts", or pay anyone offering to recover lost funds. Stolen money can only be recovered through law enforcement and the courts. More information is available on the State Police website.
