Earlier this week reported News24 about a text message that was rampant. The sender claimed to be from ESS Inkasso. In fact, the company is not approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority and is missing from the authority’s list of approved companies to conduct debt collection.
Jonas46, is one of those who received the text message.
– In short: They managed to blow me, despite my knowledge of just such things, he tells Nyheter24.
Even though Jonas has kept himself informed about the police’s updates and news, he fell for the text message that came from the “collection company”.
– I am aware that there are frauds of various kinds that I read in the news. Bankid, ID theft and other types of fraud but still I fell for their scam talk.
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The text message: Pay – otherwise it goes to the Bailiff
It was an ordinary weekday when Jonas was greeted by a text that first came to his daughter’s mobile but was addressed to him.
– Of course, we were stressed that something would go on to the Kronofogden. We kind of thought, we definitely don’t want to go there!
Photo: Private. Claimed SEK 16,390
When Jonas calls the number in the text message, he reaches a woman who claims she works at Webhallen.
– I questioned the text message and had it explained to me that it applied to my purchase of an iPhone 15 Pro that I bought at Webhallen in August for SEK 15,690. Plus the debt collection fee, it was SEK 16,390, I think she said, says Jonas.
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The fraudster: We file a report with the police
When Jonas explains that he hasn’t bought an iPhone 15 Pro, the woman from “Webhallen” takes a closer look and sees that he hasn’t. According to her, this has happened several times before.
– She said that she understood the problem as they had experienced and had a lot of problems with this type of fraud before, says Jonas and continues:
– She announced that she would freeze the invoice and report this as a fraud. During the conversation I was of course annoyed and stressed about how this could have happened. She said she could help and make a report and notify my banks who in turn would contact me. She asked a lot of questions. Who had access to my mobile, computer and Bankid and more, which banks we had, if we used to shop online… After the questions, she said that a report to the police was ready and that she had notified the banks.
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The “bank” calls: Then “the token fell down”
Two minutes later, Jonas’ mobile phone rings. There is someone who says his name is Fredrik and who works at Länsförsäkringar – but Jonas actually has a completely different bank. Despite this, the conversation continues and “Fredrik” asks similar questions to the woman from “Webhallen”.
The man on the other end of the phone asks Jonas to download an antivirus program, which Jonas does. Then he asks him to restart the cell phone, and says he will call back.
– When he didn’t call back, the token fell on me and I began to doubt this, precisely also because my mobile began to live a life of its own. I closed all apps.
In Sweden, the fraud alarms have replaced each other, and the police work diligently to provide information on how to recognize a fraud before it is too late.
“Frauds that are increasing in both number and crime profits are frauds through social manipulation. The victim is manipulated into sending money away or doing some wrong behavior, said the coordinator of the National Fraud Center,” has Lotta Mauritzson from the National Fraud Center said in one press release from the police.
The BankID is blocked: “Total reset of the phone”
When Nyheter24 gets in touch with Länsförsäkringar, they explain that phone and text fraud is something they are very aware of.
– We at Länsförsäkringar and other banks actively work together with the police to protect customers’ money and reduce the risk of being exposed to fraud, says Ola Kallemurpress officer at Länsförsäkringar, to Nyheter24.
Lowered amount limits, ID check for mobile Bankid and temporary blocks for withdrawals are some of the measures taken by Länsförsäkringar.
This is exactly what is happening with Jonas BankID. When he tries to log in, the BankID is blocked.
– I then called the police to ensure and check that a police report had been made, but of course there was none. A police report of fraud was then drawn up. They were well aware of this type of fraud and thought I should do a full reset of the phone.
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“Sad, but you have learned a real lesson from this”
Fortunately, Jonas never lost any money. The situation left him shocked, and he realized that when it really comes down to it, even the most informed person can forget themselves and allow themselves to be stressed by fraudsters.
– My stress, the fact that I was excited about the situation made them succeed, they spoke in the right way and were persuasive, pleasant and helpful. Sad, but you have learned a real lesson from this.
Nyheter24 has searched Webhallen without results.
Have you been the victim of fraud and want to report it? Do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
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