SIS warns: Russian services collect Moldovan citizens’ data for scams
The special services of the Russian Federation are extensively collecting personal data from Moldovan citizens for use in fraud operations, according to a warning issued by the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS).
The Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) has recently acquired information indicating a coordinated effort by Russian special services to collect personal data of citizens in the Republic of Moldova. This warning was issued on Wednesday, June 17.
According to SIS, personal data is being gathered through various methods, including the illegal sale of private databases on the Dark Web, unauthorised access to private servers, and data accumulated by the Shor organised crime group over recent years. This particular database reportedly contains information on approximately 145,000 citizens who have provided their personal data.
The SIS states, “Our assessment of the available information reveals the existence of detailed databases that include names, surnames, email addresses, telephone numbers, home addresses, and copies of identity documents.”
The collected information is then passed on to cross-border organized crime groups, which use it for scam operations, bank card theft, and other fraudulent activities involving cash theft.
The SIS warns that these actions are not isolated incidents but part of a hybrid war aimed at undermining national stability. The goal of these orchestrated attacks is to instill a sense of insecurity and distrust within society.
In light of this situation, the SIS urges the public to refrain from sharing personal information with unknown individuals or purported companies that offer quick investment gains. Citizens should also avoid disclosing passwords or security information over the phone and independently verify any requests for access codes or money transfers.
“We strongly recommend that citizens promptly report any suspicious situations to the nearest police unit or by calling 112,” the SIS advises.
The police report scams daily, leaving victims with significant financial losses totalling millions of lei.
On June 15 alone, the police registered 22 reports of telephone fraud. Of these, 13 cases resulted in material losses, with total damages exceeding 1 million lei.
The most severe case occurred in the city of Râbnița, where a 63-year-old woman lost over 500,000 lei due to a fraudulent investment scheme.
During parliamentary hearings on June 12, it was revealed that in the first five months of 2026, the primary targets of scams were the elderly and women, with total damages in recent years reaching hundreds of millions of lei.
Half of all reported scams took place in the municipality of Chișinău. According to the General Inspectorate of Police (IGP), scammers often choose victims who live near banking institutions to pressure them into making quick decisions, preventing them from reconsidering any loans.
Viorel Cernăuțeanu, the head of the IGP, stated that in 2026, 137 individuals were detained and charged, with 91 currently in pretrial detention. Of those apprehended, about 100 are citizens of the Republic of Moldova, while 14 are from the Transnistrian region.
