According to Romas Čereška, Head of Development at Citadele Bank, there may be an increase in targeted fraud attempts in the near future, so residents should be especially cautious when evaluating unexpected calls, emails, or requests to provide personal information.
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Although the Register Center emphasizes that the leaked data does not include residents’ contact details, bank account numbers, or other highly sensitive data, the expert urges not to underestimate the situation. The risk arises not only from the information itself but also from how it can be used.
The greatest threat is not the leaked data, but trust
According to R. Čereška, having more information about a person allows fraudsters to create much more convincing scenarios and apply social engineering methods – posing as representatives of institutions, relying on real facts, and thus gaining trust.
“Fraudsters can exploit the situation and people’s emotions to extract the information they need – login details, other sensitive personal data, or even encourage payment for non-existent services. In such situations, people often make mistakes not because they are careless online, but because they believe they are talking to someone who truly has the right to request such information,” says R. Čereška.
According to him, the mere fact that the caller knows information about owned property or other personal data should not be a reason to trust them or rush to perform the requested actions.
How to recognize possible fraud
The expert points out that fraud attempts usually do not start with trying to seize data or money but with efforts to gain a person’s trust.
If the caller addresses you by name and surname, mentions owned real estate or other true information, it may seem that the contact came from a reliable source. However, this very impression often becomes the main tool of fraudsters.
“In such situations, the most important thing for fraudsters is not to directly access a person’s accounts or finances but to encourage them to perform actions themselves – disclose sensitive information, confirm transactions, or make payments,” notes the Citadele Bank representative.
He reminds that neither banks nor government institutions ask for PIN codes, passwords, or login details over the phone. If during the conversation there is pressure to act immediately, a request to confirm actions via Smart-ID or mobile signature, or a claim that this is the only way to protect data, this should be a clear signal to stop and verify the information through official channels.
According to the expert, a name, surname, or personal code alone is not enough to get a loan or log into a bank account, but fraudsters may try to convince a person to perform additional actions themselves.
Where to check if data has been disclosed
Residents can check if their data has been disclosed by logging into the Register Center’s self-service system and electronically verifying their identity.
Those unable to use self-service can obtain information by visiting the Register Center’s customer service department with an identity document.
However, according to the expert, checking alone is not enough. After such incidents, people naturally seek answers and want to know as soon as possible if their data was disclosed, but it is especially important at such times to remain critical and not trust the first information encountered.
“The most important thing in such situations is not to rush. If there is even the slightest doubt, it is better to stop, not confirm anything, and verify the information in another way – call the bank, consult with relatives, or contact directly the institution on whose behalf the request was made,” says R. Čereška.
He also urges discussing possible risks with relatives – especially those who use technology less frequently or may find it harder to recognize fraud attempts. If there are suspicions that you may have become a victim of fraud or have already made a payment, do not hesitate – the sooner action is taken, the greater the chance to reduce possible losses.
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