Financial Crime on the Rise in Sweden: Fraud and Shoplifting Lead the Way
According to new statistics from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå), financial crime has seen a significant increase in 2023, with fraud crimes skyrocketing by 22 percent. This marks a return to an upward trend after two years of decline.
Fraud Crimes on the Rise
Fraud crimes were the most prominent category, with an increase of 53 percent over the past decade. Specifically:
- Card fraud saw a staggering 44 percent increase
- Social engineering fraud increased by 36 percent
- This type of fraud involves fraudsters contacting individuals by phone or other means, persuading them to perform actions that benefit the fraudster financially
- “A common approach is for the fraudster to pretend to be a bank or government official,” said Matheus Eriksson, statistician at Brå. “This type of fraud is particularly insidious because it relies on manipulating people’s trust and sense of authority.”
Crimes Against Individuals
Crimes against individuals also saw an increase, with assaults accounting for a significant share:
- Assaults by acquaintances were the most common type of reported assault against women
- Assaults by strangers were the most common type of reported assault against men
- However, some types of crime within this category showed a downward trend:
- Reported sexual assaults decreased by 6 percent, with the largest decrease seen in crimes committed against women and girls
- However, some types of crime within this category showed a downward trend:
Shoplifting on the Rise
Shoplifting saw a significant increase, up 10 percent from the previous year. According to Brå, this may be partly attributed to the introduction of a special e-service that makes it easier for shopkeepers to report suspected shoplifting:
- “The increased use of this service has likely contributed to the rise in reported shoplifting,” said Eriksson
Conclusion
Overall, the statistics suggest that financial crime is becoming increasingly prevalent in Sweden. As such, authorities are urging individuals to remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from fraud and other types of financial crime.
Takeaway tips:
- Be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages asking for personal information
- Verify the identity of callers claiming to be from banks or government agencies
- Keep your personal and financial information secure online and offline
- Report any suspicious activity to authorities immediately