Physical fraud, particularly physical vishing, has become a growing issue in Sweden. This type of fraud involves social manipulation, where the perpetrator first calls the victim to obtain personal information and then visits their home to collect valuables, such as bank cards, jewelry, or artwork. Elderly individuals, especially those over 65 years old, are the primary targets of this fraud.
The caller often pretends to represent an authority, a bank, or a well-known company, claiming there is an urgent problem with the victim’s finances, such as the need to replace their card or that unauthorized withdrawals have occurred from their account. They offer “help” by sending someone to secure the victim’s accounts or valuables. The victim is instructed to place their bank card in an envelope and hand it over to the visitor, and they may also be asked to put other valuables in a bag. Throughout this interaction, the perpetrator engages the victim in conversation to prevent them from thinking critically or contacting family members, exemplifying social engineering tactics.
To guard against physical fraud and physical vishing, the police recommend the following:
- Hang up: If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a bank or an authority and feel uncertain, hang up!
- Don’t trust the caller. Instead, contact your bank or the authority directly through official channels to confirm whether the call was genuine.
- Do not share personal information such as your bank details, codes, or other sensitive information to unknown individuals.
- Inform about fraud your friends and family about, especially elderly relatives who may be more vulnerable.
- Consider utilizing your phone’s blocking features to stop unwanted calls.
- Report attempted fraud to the police
- Talk to a family member, a relative or a friend to discuss the situation with a trusted individual and ask for help
The Swedish police have intensified efforts against fraud, inclusive physical vishing. To combat these crimes, we are actively working on multiple levels: disrupting fraud attempts, conducting investigations, mitigating risks, and preventing crime by identifying and prosecuting the criminal networks behind these activities. During 2025, several indictments have been filed against gangs involved in physical fraud, and compensation has been reported for the victims. The Swedish police have also produced awareness materials for the elderly, their families, and relatives, including a film that explains how physical phone fraud occurs.
This film illustrates all the steps of the crime—from the initial contact to the moment the victim realizes they have been defrauded. The film is based on real events!
By being aware and cautious, we can all contribute to reducing the risk of becoming victims of fraud.
Be safe
Swedish Police Authority