- Scams
- Phone Scams
Fake Emergency
Fake Emergency
Last updated
Someone gets in touch and says your child, grandchild or a friend is in trouble, for example after an accident or an arrest. Sometimes the scammer pretends to be the person themselves and writes from a "new number" by text message or WhatsApp. The money is needed now, and you're asked to Swish it or transfer it right away.
Warning signs
The person has a new number and can't talk on the phone.
It's urgent, and the money has to be sent right away.
The money is to go to an account or number that doesn't belong to the person.
You are asked not to tell anyone else.
Examples of Fake Emergency
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?
- Call the person on the old number you already have, or someone else in the family.
- Agree on a family code word that only you know.
- Take a pause and talk to someone else before you send any money.
Has this happened to you?
- Contact your bank right away. Sometimes a payment can be stopped.
- Report it to the police at polisen.se or call 114 14.
- Warn your family, since the scammers may contact more of them.
- emergency
- emergency scam
- new number
- family
- swish
