Online fraud attempts in Finland rise to 148 million euros

Online fraud attempts in Finland are increasing in both frequency and sophistication. According to Finanssiala ry, attempted fraud against Finns totaled 148 million euros in 2025, representing an increase of over one-third compared to the previous year. During the first half of the year, banks were able to prevent or return over half of the funds targeted by criminals, saving citizens more than 31 million euros, while criminals successfully obtained over 28 million euros.

Fraudsters are utilizing advanced social engineering tactics, such as impersonating banks, government authorities, or organizational leaders. These methods often involve phishing for banking credentials through deceptive links or phone calls designed to create panic. Notable tactics include 'CEO fraud,' where criminals impersonate executives to authorize urgent payments, and impersonation of police or judicial institutions to induce clicks on malicious links.

Experts note that victims are no longer exclusively elderly, as scammers have moved beyond poorly translated messages to highly convincing communications. Security professionals emphasize that because these scams exploit human trust and authority, they are difficult to combat through technical means alone, making increased public awareness and strict internal payment verification protocols essential.