SEB bank’s 2025 data analysis shows that the average victim of fraud is a 49-year-old city resident working in the private sector who has fallen into a scam once. The average recorded loss was about 2,900 euros. In 65% of cases, women are targeted by fraudsters, and in 35% of cases, men.
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“Analyzing fraud cases, we see that fraudsters do not look for a specific person based on demographic indicators; they do not target only one clearly defined group of people. Creating a profile of a fraud victim, we see that nowadays anyone can become a target in the digital space. This is because the scale of fraud is increasing, and most of their actions are moving to the digital space. This means that through one channel or another, criminals can reach practically every resident of Lithuania,” says Daiva Uosytė, Head of the Prevention Department at SEB bank.
Fraudsters look for the right moment
Phone calls, SMS messages, emails, fake websites, social media ads, or alleged investment platforms – places where all residents can be reached.
According to the latest SEB bank data, criminals most often use phishing schemes (about 40% of cases) and phone scams (about 11% of cases). Bank statistics show that in phone scam cases, residents suffer the greatest losses. Losses from phishing are also growing significantly because fraudsters use more aggressive schemes to extract data and over time manage to extort larger amounts from residents.
“Sometimes it is not easy for residents to immediately realize they have fallen into a fraud trap, but all fraud schemes share a common feature – they manipulate strong emotions, and stories are created so that a person quickly believes the narrative and takes action. Often victims do not even realize they are already caught in a fraudster’s trap,” says D. Uosytė.
How are fraud tactics changing?
“Modern fraud is no longer just a ‘message written in broken language’ or an ‘obviously fake email.’ Often it is a well-thought-out and consistent sequence of actions where a person is pressured to react quickly and does not have time to critically assess the risk. Criminals imitate known individuals, create an artificial sense of urgency, manipulate fear of losing money or the opportunity to earn. Under such circumstances, even very cautious people can make decisions they normally would not,” says the SEB bank representative.
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The goal of fraudsters is not always limited to a specific amount. They seek to maximize each victim – convincing a person to transfer a larger sum or continue communication until the damage becomes significant. There are cases where a person is urged to take on additional financial obligations, such as taking a loan or borrowing from relatives. Modern fraud schemes are often carried out in stages, so a person does not always realize they have become the main actor in a fraud scenario.
How do residents end up targeted by fraudsters?
It is often mistakenly believed that life experience, financial literacy, or many years of using bank services protect against fraud. However, SEB bank data does not confirm this. The likelihood of becoming a fraud target is determined not by a person’s age, profession, or financial literacy, but by the specific situation. Pressure, haste, an unexpected message, or cleverly created deception can affect anyone. Fraudsters skillfully exploit emotions and circumstances that everyone faces, regardless of age, profession, or financial experience.
Fraudsters’ success is also aided by the belief that “this won’t happen to me.” Believing that only others become victims of fraud, residents tend to underestimate risks and do not believe they themselves can be harmed.
“Situational vigilance is necessary for everyone. The earlier a person recognizes signs of fraud, the greater the chance to avoid or reduce damage. Today, the most effective protection is the ability to stop, doubt, and critically assess the situation. Two years of analysis send a very clear message: fraudsters do not choose victims by profile. They look for opportunities, and such opportunities can arise in each of our lives every day,” says D. Uosytė.
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