Swedish police have launched a campaign urging people—especially those over 60, who are targeted most often—to hang up as soon as a call seems suspicious. Police estimate scammers took $575.3 million in 2025, with most losses coming from traditional phone scams.
Authorities say these scams typically begin with a text impersonating a government official or bank and asking the recipient to call a number. Scammers then build trust and create urgency; in some cases, they claim a crime is underway and tell victims to move money to another account.
Police have also launched a nationwide operation targeting leading figures in scam rings that authorities say are supposedly connected to organized crime. Lawmakers recently passed legislation requiring telecommunications companies to take more proactive steps to stop calls likely to be fraudulent.
