In recent years, more and more warnings have been directed to the public due to the increased number of frauds that hit Swedish private individuals ever harder.
In 2023, criminal profits for fraud increased by as much as 22 percent compared to the year before. The total criminal profits landed at SEK 7.5 billion.
According to the police, the profits are reinvested in new criminal schemes such as drugs and weapons.
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Fraud increased by 22 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. Photo: Caisa Rasmussen / TT
Profits of Crime 2023 by Fraud Type:
Source: The police
Icas urges the public
The increased number of frauds has resulted in a number of companies, banks and authorities issuing information, calls and direct warnings to fraudsters who pretend to be them in order to trick individuals into private information such as bank details and passwords.
One of the latest examples of companies warning customers is Ica Banken. They, like many other banks, are part of the initiative “Svårlurad” which is based on enlightening and informing individuals, above all the elderly, about fraud and what distinguishes it.
Therefore, they recently went out and informed about how you can prevent falling into the clutches of the fraudster by sharing several tips, including increasing knowledge and informing each other.
READ MORE: Ica Bank’s sharp appeal: “Help them”
Photo: Christine Olsson/TTSkatteverket warns of new frauds
In October, the Swedish Tax Agency also issued a cabinet warning.
It then involves new attempts to pretend to be the authority. But in fact, it is fraudsters who are behind the new, cunning attempts to get at you and your money.
By sending out “forms” that you have to fill in to get your tax refund paid, they try to deceive unsuspecting individuals. They send fake forms and set up scam websites to gain trust.
“As you can see on that page, there are more attempts to use the Tax Agency’s name and therefore we show current examples. It is a fixed page that we link to when it becomes relevant due to scam emails or text messages. The information on that page is the same as before, however the top image example is from yesterday,” wrote the Swedish Tax Agency’s IT director Peder Sjölander to News24 in connection with the warning being issued.
READ MORE: The Tax Agency warns: New frauds have gained momentum
Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT
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The authority warns you
Recently, however, several companies have started to appear on the radar of a specific authority.
It is the Financial Supervisory Authority, FI, which in a press release is now warning the Swedes about four companies that offer financial services.
The companies in question are BT-Norden, Handelsrummet, Lloyd Markets and Swisscoinco/Online windows llc company. All four do not have permission from the Financial Supervisory Authority to conduct activities based on advice, financial services or other financial activities in Sweden.
“Nor have any cross-border activities for the companies been reported to FI from any other EEA country. The four companies also do not have permission to conduct financial activities according to the supervisory authority in the country where each company states that it is domiciled,” they write about the companies on their homepage.
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Photo: Tomas Oneborg/SvD/TTFI: How to avoid investment fraud
In connection with the warning they addressed to the public, FI also shares several tips that are important for you to consider, so as not to risk being deceived by any of the companies. The risk exists because they are not under the supervision of the Financial Supervisory Authority.
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According to FI, you should consider this:
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