Swedish police identify 72 youths recruited by gangs for fraud

The Swedish National Operations Department (Noa) has identified more than 70 children and young people who have responded to online advertisements from criminal gangs. These gangs use social media and chat groups to recruit youth for various tasks, ranging from violent crimes to financial fraud.

According to Johan Olsson, head of Noa, the recruitment often involves small tasks such as purchasing prepaid phone cards or lending out bank accounts to facilitate scams. Police warn that while these tasks may seem harmless to the youth involved, they contribute to serious organized crime and can serve as a gateway to more violent activities.

The list of identified individuals has been distributed to regional police departments, which are now contacting the youths and their parents. Authorities expressed concern that these minor assignments are used to pressure young people into committing increasingly severe crimes.