VSAA Warns of Fake Text Messages About a Frozen Second-Pillar Pension

Clients of Latvia's State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) have received text messages saying their second-level pension has been frozen. Agency press secretary Iveta Daine told the portal Jauns.lv that the messages are fraudulent and that recipients should not click the links in them.

The agency learned of the messages from clients who contacted its consultation centre. Daine noted that the first person to report it had already realised the message was a scam.

What the scammers want

The aim of the messages is to get people to open the link. After that, personal data is usually requested, sometimes even a personal identity code, or the person is asked to log in to their bank. According to Daine, scammers usually have a single goal: to steal money or obtain sensitive data.

How to spot a fake

The VSAA spokesperson urged people not to rush into action, since taking a moment may let them notice language mistakes in the text. Checking the link is also important. In this case it ends with VSAA_LV rather than vsaa.gov.lv, while the addresses of state institutions end in gov.lv. The link also contains the letters s.id, which does not fit a government body.

The content itself is another warning sign. VSAA does not manage the second pension level; that is done by the fund manager the person has chosen. The agency therefore could not tell anyone that the second level is frozen, collapsed or crashed. Such words are a signal that a message may be fraudulent, and people can check online whether VSAA has ever announced anything of the kind.

If VSAA did send a text message, the link would lead to a section of the latvija.lv website. The agency never sends other kinds of links.

Jauns.lv has repeatedly reported on various scammers trying to swindle residents out of money.