A recent wave of online scams has been identified in Albania, with fraudsters targeting citizens through deceptive SMS messages posing as the Traffic Police or the national postal service.
Recipients are falsely notified about unpaid fines or undelivered packages and are urged to click on embedded links. These links lead to fraudulent websites designed to mimic official platforms, where users are prompted to enter their bank card details—information that is then captured by scammers.
Cybersecurity specialist Juled Mardodaj warns that such phishing schemes are among the most widespread globally, not just in Albania. “The goal is to obtain personal and banking data from citizens. The perpetrators are mostly foreign,” he said.
In response, the National Cyber Security Authority has coordinated efforts with telecom operators, banks, and other institutions to limit the impact and block malicious domains.
However, experts stress that the most critical line of defense remains the end user. Citizens are urged to exercise caution when navigating online and to follow basic safety practices: avoid clicking on links from unknown SMS messages or emails, always verify website addresses, and never share sensitive financial information through unsecured platforms.
Authorities emphasize that government institutions do not request payments or banking details via SMS links. Citizens who receive suspicious messages are encouraged to report them to the relevant authorities.
According to experts, a simple check lasting just a few seconds before clicking a link can prevent financial losses and protect personal data from being compromised.
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