Sörmland small businesses face rising wave of fraud

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Sörmland, Sweden, are facing an increasing wave of fraud, including invoice scams, online fraud, and cyberattacks. A survey by Spiris involving 1,000 small business owners indicates that nearly half feel heightened anxiety regarding economic crime, and three out of four report an increase in attempted fraud.

According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå), over 10,000 invoice frauds were reported in 2025, marking a 46 percent increase over six years. Despite this, many business owners choose not to report incidents, often due to a belief that reporting will not lead to results. Experts suggest that this trend could deter future entrepreneurs and impact job creation, as small businesses are responsible for a significant portion of new jobs and municipal tax revenue.