Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova has urged clergy and believers to exercise heightened caution amid a sharp rise in phone fraud cases across the country, as authorities describe the situation as a “cybercrime epidemic.”

In a pastoral message addressed to the faithful, the head of the Orthodox Church of Moldova warned that criminals are increasingly using sophisticated psychological manipulation, posing as officials from various institutions in an attempt to extract money and personal data from citizens.

“In recent times, there has been a growing number of telephone scams in which criminals, using deception and various methods of manipulation, attempt to obtain money or personal data, or mislead citizens by referring to alleged emergencies,” Metropolitan Vladimir said in his statement.

He called on believers to remain vigilant and exercise spiritual discernment, stressing that suspicious calls should not be trusted and that no personal information should be shared over the phone. He also advised people to verify any urgent requests through official channels, parish priests, or trusted contacts.

“Do not succumb to suspicious phone calls or provide personal data. In case of doubt, one should contact a parish priest or competent state authorities,” he said. The Metropolitan added that deception and falsehood bring anxiety and harm, while Christians are called to live in truth, sobriety, and peace, maintaining inner discipline as a form of protection.

Moldovan authorities report that phone-based fraud has surged dramatically in recent months. According to local media outlet Moldova 1, criminals have stolen more than 11 million Moldovan lei from around 100 victims in a short period, with some individual losses reaching hundreds of thousands of lei.

Mihai Lupascu, head of the Cybersecurity Agency, said the scale of the problem amounts to a “true epidemic” of fraudulent calls. He noted that scammers are increasingly using complex scenarios, impersonating bank officials, police officers, and other authorities to create a sense of urgency and pressure victims into making impulsive decisions.

He also warned that fraudsters often use phone number spoofing and exploit personal data that has previously been leaked online. “If someone pressures you and demands immediate action, it is almost always a sign of fraud,” he said.

Authorities further cautioned that scammers sometimes insist on communicating only in Russian and may ask victims to install third-party applications on their phones, which can allow remote access to devices.