Two men from the municipality of Chisinau were detained on suspicion of involvement in the “relative involved in the accident” scam. They allegedly created false stories that the relative of the person they called had caused a road accident. The amounts they extorted from victims varied between €3,000 and €10,000, IPN reports.

According to the General Police Inspectorate, the suspects posed as employees of law enforcement agencies. They contacted relatives and, under the pretext that their relatives had caused a car accident and injured a person, demanded money to avoid criminal investigation. Calls were made only on the landline.

The suspects, aged 58 and 59, were apprehended. Under the legislation, they risk one to five years in jail.

Police urge the people to be cautious. “The criminals target mostly elderly persons. We urge the people to talk to their elderly parents or relatives about this kind of scam and, in order not to become a victim of criminals, to immediately notify the police through the single emergency number 112,” the General Police Inspectorate said.