Swedish Elderly Women Targeted by Rising Social‑Manipulation Fraud

Sweden’s crime statistics show a sharp rise in frauds that use social manipulation, especially against women over 65. In 2025, 46,306 victims were recorded for this type of fraud, a 270 % increase from 2019’s 12,513 cases. The per‑100‑000‑inhabitant rate for women aged 65+ jumped from 356 to 1,393, while men of the same age rose from 249 to 822.

Overall, 133,407 people fell victim to fraud in 2025, with women accounting for 53 % of cases. The surge in social‑manipulation scams has pushed fraud to become Sweden’s most common crime, overtaking traditional violent offences. Authorities note that AI‑generated messages in perfect Swedish are now aiding scammers, while card‑present fraud has halved due to better security measures.

Police warn that these “quiet robberies” lure victims into their homes to hand over money or personal data, and they continue public campaigns to educate the public on protection measures.