Got this sms from “collection”? Then it’s a scam

Got this sms from collection Then its a scam

Every now and then, everything from banks and authorities to companies share warnings with the public. Not infrequently it is about the increased number of frauds that all too often take place and affect the Swedes.

Often the fraudster pretends to be a representative from, for example, the Swedish Tax Agency, the Swedish Police Agency, the Postcode Millionaire or Swish. By using a trust-inspiring company or authority name, they then try to snatch your acquired money, and unfortunately the criminal profits amount to billions.

READ MORE: The postcode lottery’s warning: This is how fraudsters trick you

Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT

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Crime profits for fraud 2023

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.

Profits of Crime 2023 by Fraud Type:

  • Investment fraud: SEK 2.3 billion.
  • Telephone fraud: SEK 708 million.
  • Romance fraud: SEK 470 million.
  • Card fraud without a physical card: SEK 344 million.
  • Fraud where a person impersonates a company or authority: SEK 329 million.
  • Source: The police

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    Person defrauded of SEK 36,000 – now the police are acting

    In 2023 alone, the number of reports where individuals were exposed to a fraud crime amounted to a whopping 238,371. It was then an increase of a whopping 22 percent compared to the whole of 2022.

    And unfortunately it still doesn’t seem to be abating.

    News24 recently reported on a person who was exposed to a fraudster and was thus defrauded of SEK 36,000.

    It all unfolded in Norrbotten, where the police received an unusually large number of reports concerning fraudsters who called private individuals and stated that they work in healthcare. After that, the person wants to book in or change an appointment, and to do so, it is necessary to use BankID.

    The person who was defrauded of SEK 36,000 carried out the identification with BankID. Another was about to do so and get rid of SEK 40,000, but the bank managed to stop the transfer.

    The incident in northern Sweden has caused the police to act.

    READ MORE: Cheated of SEK 36,000 – the police issue a warning

    Fraudsters send hoax text messages

    Now another company has been hit by fraudsters impersonating them in a cunning attempt to win the public’s trust.

    If you receive an SMS with the following text, it is most likely a scam:

    “Hello!

    Please note that the invoice for case number (XXX) is overdue. To avoid further action, please contact us at 08-55XXX,” reads the scam message, which refers to a made-up case number.

    The company that signs the message is called Kraft Inkasso, and states that a phone was bought at Webbhallen, writes Advice & Opinion.

    One of their readers received the message and then called the number that was provided. In the conversation, it was explained to the person that a phone had been purchased at Webbhallen and that it had been sent to an address in Rinkeby, west of Stockholm. The invoice would then have been written in the person’s name.

    As the conversation continued, the scammer tried to get the text message recipient to share information in order to handle a police report that was to be made regarding the purchase. The recipient became suspicious and quickly ended the call, says Råd & Rön.

    READ MORE: The authority’s alarm: 140,000 frauds in six months

    Here’s what you should do if you receive a debt collection SMS or email:

  • Check the debt collection company’s official contact details. Instead of calling the number provided, you should visit the debt collection company’s official website and check the company’s contact information there. Double check that the number provided in the message matches the official number before calling.
  • Do not swipe money without checking the recipient. The fraudsters may ask you to wire money to settle the alleged debt. Do not do so until you have verified that it is indeed a valid debt collection claim and that the money is actually being transferred to the collection agency.
  • Use the debt collection company’s online services. Most debt collection companies have “my pages” where you can log in and manage your cases.
  • Do not download any apps to your phone. The debt collection companies do not use these to communicate with you.
  • Source: Swedish debt collection, Tricked

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