Scandinavian criminal groups increase vishing and SMS fraud

Criminal networks in Scandinavia are increasingly utilizing sophisticated fraud tactics targeting both businesses and individuals. Swedish police report a rise in "vishing" (voice phishing) attacks specifically aimed at companies. These attacks often involve fraudulent SMS messages regarding unpaid invoices, prompting victims to call numbers that grant criminals access to corporate bank accounts. Stefan F. Larsson of the Swedish police notes that stolen funds, often ranging from 500,000 to 1 million SEK, are frequently transferred through various banks before being converted into cryptocurrency. These "multicriminal" actors often operate from locations such as Spain, Morocco, or Dubai.

In Denmark, a separate but similar wave of SMS fraud has been identified where criminals impersonate the parking company Apcoa. Victims receive messages about unpaid parking fees and are directed to over 75 identified fake websites designed to harvest credit card information and personal data. Authorities warn that these campaigns use low requested amounts to reduce hesitation from victims.