2023 was the year when the number of reported frauds really skyrocketed. Throughout the year, a whopping 238,000 reports of various types of fraud came to the police. It was then an increase of 22 percent compared to the previous year.
Of these thousands of reported crimes, only three percent were resolved.
And as it has become more difficult to reach the fraudsters, they are constantly developing their cunning tricks to snatch people’s money and belongings.
This has now resulted in the Swedish Tax Agency, once again, going out and warning the public.
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Police warning against the elderly and pensioners
Some of the most vulnerable in society are the country’s pensioners. The police recently came out and warned about a type of fraud that has increased recently, and where the elderly and pensioners are often the victims.
It then involves so-called physical vishing, which involves the fraudster calling you and pretending to be from an institution, authority or bank and announcing that something serious has happened. Then, in order to secure your valuables, they ask you to open the door for a “colleague” who will come and collect valuables for you to be secured.
But in reality, it is the scammer who tricks you and takes your belongings.
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Physical vishing is becoming increasingly common against the elderly. Therefore, the police have warned the public. Photo: Martina Holmberg / TTSPF Seniors exposed to fraud attempts
Often the fraudster uses a specific authority, institution, bank or company to try to create credibility and win your trust.
By pretending to be your bank, they therefore try to get you to hand over sensitive and private information such as bank details and BankID codes.
Even the associations of the elderly are not spared. Recently, in addition to the police, the SPF Seniors also went out and warned members when a scam email was rampant.
It was claimed to come from the chairman of the SPF Seniors in Höör in Scania. The email invited members to click on a link to purchase gift cards, which were then supposed to be replaced, but which actually directed them to a scam site controlled by fraudsters.
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SPF Seniors’ members have also been exposed to fraud attempts recently. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TTSkatteverket warns of new scam emails
Among all the warnings from banks, companies and authorities that have gone out to the public in the past year, one more government authority has now chosen to do so.
The Tax Agency, which previously reported that fraudsters use the agency’s name, now warns of both fake emails, calls and text messages that abound. And where a type of trying to get in touch with you has become more common lately.
“We warn of scam emails that appear to come from the Tax Agency. Do not open these emails as they may contain viruses, but throw them away immediately. If you are worried, you can contact your own IT support. You do not need to contact us if you have received a such a message. We have reported this to the police,” they write on their homepage.
The Swedish Tax Agency has shared a warning text on its website about new fraud attempts that are rampant, where the authority’s name is used. Photo: Screenshot Skatteverket.se
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The Swedish Tax Agency: You should think about that
According to the authority, the scam email may look like the Tax Agency’s own sender, but in fact it may be the fraudster trying to get in touch with you.
“An example of a scam email we have become aware of is where people are contacted and asked to scan a qr code and sign with their e-identification. The email can, for example, appear to come from the Swedish Tax Agency as the sender, [email protected]”, they write further.
If you have received, or have already received, one of the scam emails that are rampant around the country, you should take action. Above all, if you feel uneasy and suspect that it is a fake mailing.
According to the Swedish Tax Agency, you should then consider that:
Finally, the authority emphasizes that they never ask for account or other bank details via email or SMS. Namely, it only takes place via the authority’s own e-service, which you log into yourself with your e-identification.
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