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Sweden Today

Swedish news in English

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Swedish Elderly Scammed by Marbella Crime Rings

Published: 2024-02-09

An alarming investigation by SVT's 'Uppdrag granskning' has shed light on the plight of Swedish pensioners falling victim to telephone scams orchestrated by criminal gangs from Marbella, Spain.

These scammers, often targeting the elderly with fears of financial insecurity, use sophisticated tactics to bypass bank security measures and persuade victims to transfer their life savings to so-called 'safe' accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

The emotional impact of these crimes has been profound, with footage showing a bank official breaking down upon witnessing the deception of their customers.

This revelation has prompted Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to convene a meeting with bank chiefs and police to discuss enhancing collaboration and bank responsibility to prevent such crimes.

The government is also considering legislative measures to restrict criminals' access to payment systems.