Finland police warn of video‑call scams impersonating officers

Police in Finland have reported a surge in fraud carried out via video‑call platforms such as Google Meet, where criminals pose as police officers, prosecutors or bank staff. In several cases the perpetrators have used the faces of well‑known Finnish officers, including senior police chief Ilkka Koskimäki, and deep‑fake technology to make the calls appear authentic. The scams target residents, especially those with foreign backgrounds, and typically involve threats and pressure to obtain personal identification documents, bank‑account details or payment‑card information. Authorities stress that Finnish police never initiate video calls with citizens and advise users to enable settings that block calls from unknown contacts.

Similar warnings have been issued in Poland, where police and consumer‑protection agencies have alerted the public to video‑call frauds that mimic police or bank officials. The Polish alerts describe criminals claiming to be part of secret police operations or “technical accounts,” using professional‑looking language and sometimes deep‑fake visuals to persuade victims to transfer money or share credentials. Victims have lost sums ranging from a few thousand złotych to tens of thousands. The Polish police recommend verifying any request through official channels, never sending money on video‑call instruction, and adjusting video‑call app settings to accept calls only from trusted contacts.

Both countries advise the public to remain skeptical of unsolicited video calls, to avoid sharing login or payment information, and to report suspicious incidents to law‑enforcement authorities.