Bulgaria's internal security in 2025 is facing new challenges due to a significant increase in phone scams and increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes. According to police information, for the first 8 months of the year, cases of phone fraud have increased by 20% compared to the same period in 2024.
The main victims are people of different ages, but especially the elderly. The most popular scam remains the story of assisting the police in solving a crime, in which victims are persuaded to take out loans and transfer funds to "safe" accounts. A new generation of crimes is also emerging, involving the spoofing of phone numbers through internet telephony and fake emails.
The Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor's Office have responded with large-scale prevention campaigns, including active information campaigns and warnings in the media. Mass police raids against phone scammers are being organized. Techniques for tracking calls and financial transfers are being improved, and banks have been notified to introduce new verification protocols.
The authorities emphasize that public vigilance remains a key defense: "No institution will ask for money or personal data over the phone. Any suspicious call should be reported immediately to 112".