- Fraud recovery in Lithuania is available through criminal proceedings filed with the Lithuanian Police and the Prosecutor General’s Office, civil litigation before Lithuanian courts, and regulatory complaints to Lietuvos bankas (Bank of Lithuania) depending on the fraud type.
- Lietuvos bankas is Lithuania’s unified financial market supervisor – licensing and supervising investment firms, CASPs under MiCA, forex and CFD platforms, banks, and other financial market participants, and providing consumer dispute resolution against financial market participants. Complaints to Lietuvos bankas may be submitted in Lithuanian or English.
- The FNTT / Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS) is Lithuania’s dedicated law enforcement body for financial crimes and AML/CFT supervision – handling financial crime investigations, suspicious financial flows, and crypto-sector risk issues in cooperation with Lietuvos bankas.
- Lietuvos bankas supervises only licensed crypto-asset service providers – investors cannot protect their rights through Lietuvos bankas against an unlicensed crypto market participant in the same way as against a licensed one.
- The VVTAT (State Consumer Rights Protection Authority) handles consumer disputes with traders and service providers, but the consumer must first complain to the seller or service provider – if unresolved or no reasoned reply within 14 days, the consumer may apply to VVTAT. VVTAT procedures are conducted in Lithuanian.
Types of Fraud in Lithuania and Where to Report
Investment Company Fraud
Lietuvos bankas (Bank of Lithuania) licenses and supervises investment service providers, financial brokerage firms, and other financial market participants in Lithuania. Lietuvos bankas accepts complaints against financial service providers for supervisory violations, unauthorised activity, and market-law breaches – filed online, by email, or by post. Lietuvos bankas also provides consumer dispute resolution against financial market participants after the consumer has first complained to the provider. Where an investment firm, fund, intermediary, or unlicensed entity offered investment products or services in violation of Lithuanian financial law, complaints are filed with Lietuvos bankas. For criminal fraud – misappropriation of invested funds, false representations about returns, Ponzi structures, or fabricated investment products – a criminal complaint is filed with the Lithuanian Police or through the ePolice portal. The Prosecutor General’s Office handles criminal prosecution. Civil proceedings for damages, recovery, and freezing measures are brought before the district court.Cryptocurrency Fraud
Lietuvos bankas is the national competent authority under MiCA in Lithuania, issuing licences to crypto-asset service providers and supervising licensed CASPs. AML/CFT oversight of the crypto sector is exercised together with the FNTT / Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS). Lietuvos bankas expressly notes that only activity of licensed crypto-asset service providers is supervised – investors cannot protect their rights through Lietuvos bankas against an unlicensed crypto market participant in the same way. Where a crypto company is licensed or claims to be licensed under MiCA, complaints are filed with Lietuvos bankas. For financial crime, AML-related issues, suspicious structures, or crypto-sector risk matters, reports are filed with the FNTT. For crypto scams, wallet and account fraud, or criminal deception, criminal complaints are filed with the Lithuanian Police. The Prosecutor’s Office handles criminal prosecution. Civil proceedings for recovery and damages are brought before the competent court.Forex and Online Trading Fraud
Lietuvos bankas supervises forex and CFD brokers under the investment services supervision framework in Lithuania. Where a forex or CFD provider is regulated or claims Lithuanian authorisation, complaints are filed with Lietuvos bankas for supervisory breaches or unauthorised activity. For criminal fraud involving manipulated platforms, boiler room operations, blocked withdrawals, or impersonation of brokers, criminal complaints are filed with the Lithuanian Police. The Prosecutor’s Office handles prosecution. Civil proceedings for restitution and damages are brought before the competent court. Complaints to Lietuvos bankas for complaint and dispute procedures may be submitted in Lithuanian or English.Real Estate Fraud
Lithuania does not have a single national financial-style regulator for ordinary real estate brokerage. The State Enterprise Centre of Registers (Registrų centras) provides public access to the Register of Legal Entities for company existence and status verification, as well as real property register and cadastre functions. The VVTAT (State Consumer Rights Protection Authority) handles consumer disputes with traders and service providers, including non-delivery, poor service, and property damage due to seller or service provider actions. The FNTT may be relevant where the case concerns financial crime or AML-related aspects. For verification of the company’s existence and status, Registrų centras is consulted first. Where the dispute qualifies as a consumer matter with a trader, the consumer must first complain to the seller or service provider – if unresolved within 14 days, the consumer may apply to VVTAT (procedures conducted in Lithuanian). Where fraud involves fake listings, deposit fraud, forged documents, or criminal deception, criminal complaints are filed with the Lithuanian Police and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office. Civil proceedings for damages, rescission, recovery of deposits, and title or property disputes are brought before the competent court.International Trade Fraud Involving a Lithuanian Company
Where an international transaction with a Lithuanian company results in fraud – fake supplier, forged invoices, diversion of payment, sham transaction, or non-delivery with fraudulent intent – criminal complaints are filed with the Lithuanian Police and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office. Civil proceedings for contractual claims, damages, and attachment or interim relief are brought before the competent Lithuanian court. Registrų centras should be consulted to verify the Lithuanian company in the Register of Legal Entities before and during the dispute. For consumer matters, VVTAT is the competent authority – ECC Lithuania’s form expressly redirects Lithuanian residents with claims against Lithuanian traders to VVTAT.Fraudulent Bankruptcy
Where a company in which funds were invested enters insolvency and there are indicators of fraudulent conduct – asset stripping, concealment, forged reporting, or sham insolvency conduct – the company’s status should be checked in the Register of Legal Entities and liquidation notices through Registrų centras. Criminal complaints for fraud, asset stripping, and concealment are filed with the Lithuanian Police and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office. Where the facts indicate financial crime or money laundering-related conduct, the FNTT is notified. Civil proceedings for creditor claims and related litigation are brought before the ordinary court system.Prepayment Fraud and Non-Delivery
Where a buyer made prepayment and received no goods or services – and the case involves fraudulent intent, a fake seller, sham supply, or an invoice scam – criminal complaints are filed with the Lithuanian Police and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office. Where the dispute qualifies as a consumer purchase or service matter, the consumer must first complain to the seller or service provider – if unresolved or no reasoned reply within 14 days, the consumer can apply to VVTAT (complaint in Lithuanian). Civil proceedings for B2B claims, larger-value recovery, and damages are brought before the competent court.Phishing and Cyber Fraud
Phishing, online fraud, credential theft, and social engineering attacks are reported to the Lithuanian Police through the ePolice portal for formal criminal complaints. The Prosecutor’s Office handles prosecution. Where phishing resulted in compromised banking credentials or unauthorised transactions, the servicing bank or payment provider must be contacted immediately to block transactions, accounts, and cards and attempt recall. Where the case concerns broader financial crime patterns or suspicious financial flows, the FNTT is notified.Financial Statement Fraud
Where a company in which funds were invested engaged in fraudulent financial reporting – false accounting, deception of investors, or concealment of income – criminal complaints are filed with the Lithuanian Police and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office. The FNTT handles financial crime investigation. If the entity is a supervised financial market participant, Lietuvos bankas is notified – reports on breaches of legal acts regulating the financial market may be submitted to Lietuvos bankas, and whistleblower reports may be forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office. Civil proceedings for investor damages and misrepresentation claims are brought before the competent court.Romance Fraud and Social Media Fraud
Romance scams and social media fraud – including impersonation, fabricated identities, emotional manipulation for financial extraction, induced transfers, and social network scams – are reported to the Lithuanian Police through the ePolice portal for formal criminal complaints. The Prosecutor’s Office handles prosecution. Where money was transferred, the servicing bank or payment provider should be contacted immediately for urgent recall and card blocking. Platform reporting systems (dating apps, social networks, messengers) should be used in parallel.Banking Fraud and Credit Card Fraud
Lietuvos bankas supervises banks and other financial market participants in Lithuania and handles consumer disputes with financial market participants. Consumer applications to the Bank of Lithuania may be submitted in Lithuanian or English. The first step in any banking or card fraud matter is immediate notification to the servicing bank or card issuer to block the card and account and dispute the unauthorised transaction. Where the institution fails to resolve the complaint adequately, the matter is escalated to Lietuvos bankas for complaint resolution and consumer dispute proceedings. Criminal complaints for card fraud, account takeover, or unauthorised transactions are filed with the Lithuanian Police through the ePolice portal and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office. Civil proceedings are available if the dispute is not resolved.Immediate Steps After Discovering Fraud in Lithuania
Step 1 – File a Criminal Complaint with the Lithuanian Police
Report the fraud to the Lithuanian Police immediately, including through the ePolice portal for online reporting. Provide all available evidence: contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and identity information for the counterparty. The police report is a prerequisite for prosecution and unlocks investigative tools including bank record production, platform disclosure, and cross-border cooperation.
Step 2 – Notify the Relevant Regulator
If the fraud involves an investment firm, licensed CASP, forex platform, bank, or financial market participant, file a complaint with Lietuvos bankas (online, by email, or by post – in Lithuanian or English). For financial crime or AML-related matters, report to the FNTT. For consumer disputes with traders, file with the VVTAT after first complaining to the provider (14-day rule; complaint in Lithuanian). Regulatory notification creates an enforcement record and may trigger supervisory investigation.
Step 3 – Secure Financial Accounts and Initiate Recall
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to block compromised accounts, cards, and transactions and initiate recall or chargeback procedures for fraudulent transactions.
Step 4 – Verify the Counterparty Through Registrų centras
Check the counterparty’s existence, registration status, and any insolvency or liquidation notices through the Register of Legal Entities at Registrų centras. For real estate matters, consult the real property register and cadastre functions. Registration irregularities or dissolution entries inform the enforcement strategy and determine whether asset preservation measures are necessary.
Step 5 – Preserve All Evidence
Save all communications, contracts, invoices, payment confirmations, website screenshots, email headers, and transaction records without alteration. Digital evidence is critical for both criminal investigation and civil proceedings and may become inaccessible if platforms delete accounts or the counterparty destroys records. Evidence preservation should begin immediately upon discovery of the fraud.
Legal Options for Fraud Victims in Lithuania
Criminal Proceedings
Criminal complaints filed with the Lithuanian Police and prosecuted by the Prosecutor General’s Office initiate formal investigation under Lithuanian criminal law. The FNTT handles financial crime investigations and AML/CFT matters. Relevant offences include fraud, computer fraud, document fraud, identity fraud, money laundering, and fraudulent bankruptcy. Criminal proceedings provide access to investigative tools unavailable in civil litigation – bank record production orders, platform identity disclosure, telecommunications data, and international judicial cooperation through mutual legal assistance treaties and EU instruments. The ePolice portal provides online crime reporting.
Civil Litigation
Civil proceedings before Lithuanian courts are available for contractual claims, damages, restitution, unjust enrichment, and rescission of fraudulent transactions. District courts are the courts of first instance for civil and criminal cases, with regional courts hearing certain first-instance and appeal cases. Freezing measures can be obtained to prevent dissipation of assets during proceedings. Civil litigation targets the fraudster and, where applicable, institutions that failed to prevent the fraud – including claims against banks and financial market participants for breach of their obligations.
Consumer Dispute Resolution Through Lietuvos bankas and VVTAT
Lietuvos bankas provides consumer dispute resolution against financial market participants – after the consumer has first complained to the provider. Complaints may be submitted in Lithuanian or English. The VVTAT handles consumer disputes with traders and service providers – the consumer must first complain to the seller or service provider, and if unresolved within 14 days, may apply to VVTAT (in Lithuanian). These mechanisms provide resolution without the full cost and duration of court proceedings.
Regulatory Complaints
Complaints to Lietuvos bankas create enforcement records that contribute to supervisory action against the entity. Reports on breaches of financial market legal acts may be submitted, and whistleblower reports may be forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office. Regulatory proceedings can result in licence suspension or revocation, fines, public warnings, and mandatory corrective measures. Regulatory findings may support civil claims by establishing that the entity breached its supervisory obligations under Lithuanian financial law.
Factors That Determine Recovery Outcomes in Lithuania
Speed of Reporting
Criminal complaints filed within hours of discovery give investigators the best chance of tracing funds before they are moved or layered through intermediary accounts. Bank recall mechanisms are most effective when initiated on the same day as the fraudulent transaction. Regulatory notifications filed promptly create contemporaneous records that strengthen both criminal and civil proceedings.
Identifiability and Asset Position of the Fraudster
Named counterparties with identifiable assets in Lithuania – bank accounts, real property, registered companies, vehicles – are the most viable targets for civil recovery and enforcement. Where the fraudster operated anonymously or through shell structures, criminal investigation through the Lithuanian Police, FNTT, and Prosecutor’s Office is the primary identification tool through bank records, platform data, and telecommunications records.
Institutional Liability
Where a regulated institution – bank, payment institution, investment firm, forex platform, or licensed CASP supervised by Lietuvos bankas – failed to comply with its supervisory obligations, institutional liability claims provide an alternative recovery path against a solvent, regulated defendant. These claims do not depend on the fraudster’s identifiability or asset position and are particularly relevant where the fraudster has absconded or dissipated assets.
Quality and Completeness of Evidence
Contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and digital forensic evidence form the foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil recovery. Incomplete evidence – missing transaction references, deleted communications, unrecorded oral agreements – weakens both the criminal case and the civil enforcement position. Immediate, comprehensive evidence preservation at the point of discovery is the single most important step a victim can take to support recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Fraud in Lithuania: Legal Options for Recovering Money from Fraudsters
Fraud recovery in Lithuania operates through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, consumer dispute resolution, and regulatory complaints – each channel serving a distinct function in identifying the fraudster, preserving assets, and achieving financial recovery. Lietuvos bankas is the unified financial market supervisor, covering investment firms, licensed CASPs under MiCA, forex platforms, banks, and financial market participants – and providing consumer dispute resolution. The FNTT handles financial crime investigations and AML/CFT matters. The Lithuanian Police and Prosecutor General’s Office handle criminal investigation and prosecution across all fraud types, with the ePolice portal available for online reporting. The VVTAT handles consumer disputes with traders after the mandatory 14-day direct complaint period.
Speed of reporting determines outcomes across all channels. Criminal complaints filed immediately preserve the investigative window for fund tracing and asset identification. Bank recall and chargeback mechanisms lose effectiveness with each day of delay. Evidence preserved at the point of discovery – contracts, communications, transaction records, digital forensic data – forms the foundation for every recovery action. Complaints to Lietuvos bankas may be submitted in Lithuanian or English, while VVTAT procedures and court proceedings are conducted in Lithuanian, making early engagement of local counsel essential for international clients.
If you suffered financial losses through fraud involving Lithuanian companies, institutions, or counterparties, contact Veritas Advisory Group s.r.o. to have your legal position assessed.
Veritas Advisory Group s.r.o. provides professional legal and advisory services to victims of investment and trade fraud in Europe. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.