Sweden launches campaign to combat phone scams through rudeness

Swedish law enforcement has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging citizens to be “rude” to phone scammers to prevent financial fraud. The initiative aims to empower individuals, particularly those over 60 who are frequently targeted, to abruptly end suspicious calls or use profanity to deter criminals rather than engaging in polite conversation.

Scammers often pose as bank employees, police officers, or government officials, using psychological manipulation, stress, and urgency to steal money. According to Robert Öhman, a national operations leader for the Swedish police, these fraudsters collect approximately 5.7 billion Swedish krona (roughly $575 million) annually.

The campaign features well-known Swedish actors, including Suzanne Reuter, to help draw attention to the issue. Beyond encouraging bluntness or swearing, the police advise citizens to simply hang up and avoid calling back numbers provided in suspicious text messages.