Deceived the elderly out of close to half a million – eight are sentenced

A league defrauded elderly people of close to half a million kroner in “a systematic way”. After eight cases of fraud, the same number of people are now being sentenced – most of them teenagers, writes Sydsvenskan.

A league sent text messages to elderly people saying their bank accounts had been exposed to “fraudulent activity” – but in fact the people behind the messages were the real scammers.

The pensioners were asked in the SMS to call a specific number where they feel they will get help, but in reality it ends up with their accounts being closed.

“Afterwards I thought how the hell could I give up the card. But I was very tired and completely sure that it was right,” an 84-year-old woman who was affected said in questioning, according to Sydsvenskan.

In her case, she was asked to put her account card and ID document in an envelope and hand it to “a man from the local bank office in Lund” who was coming by shortly. Two hours later, SEK 75,492 worth of shopping was done on the woman’s card in an expensive clothing store.

The league is now convicted of fraud, exclusively against elderly people who lost a total of SEK 430,000.

A 21-year-old man who is considered to be a leader in the network is sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a total of eight cases of gross fraud and three attempts, according to the newspaper.

The district court states that the league was systematic and well planned. A 20-year-old is sentenced to one year and three months in prison. The other six who are convicted, most of whom are teenagers, receive youth care or receive suspended sentences.

Facts

This is how you protect yourself against fraud

Read more