- Scams
- Phone Scams
Fake Calls from Authorities
Fake Calls from Authorities
Last updated
Someone calls and says they're from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), the Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden) or the police. They claim you have a debt, that you're suspected of a crime or that there's a problem with your money. To avoid punishment, you're told to pay right away, hand over your bank details or identify yourself with BankID.
Warning signs
You are threatened with fines, arrest or a trial if you don't act right away.
You're told to pay with Swish, gift cards or cryptocurrency, or into a private account.
You are asked to identify yourself with BankID during the call.
Authorities send demands and decisions by letter or to your digital mailbox. They never demand that you pay right away over the phone.
Examples of Fake Calls from Authorities
"Arrest warrant" from the police
One example of a scam call that has appeared comes from what seems to be a police switchboard. The call comes from a private number, and a voice says it's the police and that they have an arrest warrant for you for something like money laundering. You are then asked to press 1 to speak to the police. The scammers hope you will be frightened into thinking you are suspected of a crime, and will want to talk to them to explain that there has been a mistake. Once you are talking to them, they will probably ask for personal details. If they say it's about money laundering or financial crime, they will probably try to get your bank details so they can "verify" that you haven't done anything wrong. In reality, they will try to use those details to empty your bank account.
Fake emergency using AI
Here is an example retold from the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, where a 90-year-old woman was tricked by someone who called with a made-up emergency, claimed to be the police, and then used AI to imitate her daughter's voice.
How do you avoid this?
- Hang up and call the authority yourself on the number from its website.
- If you're unsure, log in to the authority's "My pages" (Mina sidor) or check your digital mailbox.
Has this happened to you?
- Call your bank right away and block your cards and BankID.
- Report it to the police at polisen.se or call 114 14.
- authority
- tax agency
- police
- enforcement authority
- fine
- phone scam
