Online Scams & Fraud in Romania

Online scams and Foreign foreign exchange transactionsfraud are a common menace in today's digital age, affecting individuals and economies worldwide. Romania, in particular, has witnessed a significant rise in online scams, leading to substantial financial losses for its residents and businesses. Recent statistics reveal that Romania is losing over €134 million annually to scams, underscoring the urgency of addressing this problem. 

In this article, we will delve into the nature of online scams and fraud in Romania. We will highlight where you can report scams, how to check for scams, and where you can get scam victim support.

Scam Statistics in Romania

The key statistics on online fraud in Romania, according to the Global Anti- Scam Alliance.

	2018	2019	2020	2021
Population	19.5 million	19.3 million	19.2 Million	19 million
Internet Penetration	71%	74%	78%	84%
# of Scams				5,052
Scams / 1,000				0.26
Money Lost				€ 134.4 million
Money Lost / Capita				€ 7.04
Money Lost / Report				€ 26,605

The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.

Download the Global State of Scam Report

Where Can I Report a Scam in Romania?

• The Police- Report any online scam or fraud to the nearest police station.
• Direcția de Investigare an Infracțiunilor de Criminalitate Organizată și Terorism, DIICOT- Also known as The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, you can report any cybercrime to them.

 

Report a scam

How to Report a Scam in Romania

Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.

• Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
• Report the incident:Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
• Stop the Money:Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
• Protect yourself:Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the FTI browser extension to warn you of scams.

Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.

Scam Victim Support in Romania

We are unaware of any scam victim support in Romania. You can consult with a local licensed therapist, counselor, or psychologist who specializes in trauma or Crime victims. 

How to Check for a Scam in Romania

Of course, you can always check for scams on FTI.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.

• Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF)- They are the regulatory authority for the Romanian financial market. You can check here for financial scams, investment scams as well as insurance-related fraud. 
• The National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC)- Consumers can check for shopping-related scams, and counterfeit, dangerous products here. 

Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities

• The National Directorate for Cybersecurity- They have taken over. CERT-RO is the Romanian National Computer Security Incident Response Team, established 
  as an independent structure for research, development, and expertise in the field of cyber-security.

Scam News From Romania

• Romanian sentenced to prison in US for laundering over USD 3.5 mln in an international fraud scheme

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