Here’s a fictive article written by the Swedish Police Authority telling how an online fraud can be lived by an individual – Danniella – How vishing is a risk that concerns every internet user.
Danniella’s Encounter with Fraud
My latest meeting with Danniella, a 59-year-old retired nurse, remains vividly etched in my
memory. After she had to go into early retirement due to a car accident, she has always looked
optimistically toward the future. We usually meet at the library to read and share our opinions
with each other. I recently visited her because I was concerned about her long absence from
the book club. We sat in her light green kitchen, filled with the friendly aroma of freshly
brewed coffee.
‘We miss you at our book club,’ I say.”
“What’s the point of reading books if I continue to behave so foolishly?” she replies. After a
moment of silence, she begins to narrate what happened to her lately.
One day, she received a text message claiming that she had made a purchase from IKEA and
that her account had already been debited. Confused and panicked, she called the number
provided at once only to reach a scammer who posed as a company representative. “I didn’t
order a double bed; I didn’t order anything at all from IKEA,” she says, her voice trembling
with emotion. The scammer, whom she believed to be an IKEA employee, said that he
suspected her digital identity had been stolen by someone who had made the purchase in her
name. He said that it was a common problem and he would connect her directly to her bank to
resolve the issue, but in reality, he connected her to his accomplice, who pretended to be from
the bank.
“I’m so stupid”, Danniella pauses, her eyes fixed on the window where trees bend gracefully
in the breeze. “The bank claims I authenticated myself digitally, and that each transaction
which went directly into the fraudsters’ account, appeared normal and correct,” she says, her
voice thick with resignation. “Of course, it is my fault. I carefully followed all the scammer
instructions because I thought he was a very helpful bankman. Gosh, how sincerely I thanked
him, I thought he would save both me and my money; he seemed trustworthy, full of patience,
and had a good work ethic,” she continues. It is clear that feelings of betrayal and loss are still
very much alive for her.
“I lost my money, and I don’t know what to do or what to say to my children and
grandchildren. They will think that their mom has been stupid and foolish, which I apparently
am.”
Unfortunately, Danniella is not alone. The majority of online fraud victims blame themselves
and do not have the courage to inform anybody or report it to the police. They feel they
should have been more vigilant, that they should have seen the warning signs. According to
1 The name is fictional to protect the person’s integrity
the Swedish Police Authority’s situation report (January -June 2024), the number of reported
fraud offenses is 111,782, of which 14,325 concerned vishing, which is the type of fraud
crime that Daniella was a victim of.
These crimes have long-term consequences at both the individual and societal levels. Beyond
economic losses, they can lead to significant psychological distress and undermine the
democratic principles of trust and openness. Addressing the complexity of fraud crimes
necessitates a range of efforts and a collaborative approach among authorities, businesses,
banks, and civil society to craft effective strategies against fraud. Moreover, the
implementation of technological solutions, including improved identification and verification
processes for users, is essential to deter scammers from preying on their victims. Furthermore,
educational initiatives should reach out to both the young and the old, fostering awareness of
the risks that accompany digital communication. Schools play a crucial role; critical thinking,
media literacy, and digital competence are essential tools in the fight against misinformation
to protect people from identity theft and cybercrimes
We, within the police, have a significant responsibility to act efficiently, especially when
identifying new modus operandi. We must be allowed to use sophisticated equipment to trace
and disrupt crimes quickly. Global coordination of police services needs to be strengthened
and expanded to enable us to try out new methods and work with other law enforcement
agencies to prosecute criminals who increasingly operate abroad and establish international
criminal networks.
I am fairly certain that you have been affected by fraud in some way, whether personally
or through a relative, family member, or friend who has fallen victim to such crimes, like
Daniella. In a world where we increasingly rely on digital communication and
transactions, it is important to stand united against these threats and support the victims of
crime. Hopefully, we can help Danniella reconnect with her reading friends and find joy in
the small things. May she heal her invisible wounds, regain trust, and understand that she
was a victim of a crime, and that the shame should lie with the perpetrator.
Galaxia Wallin
The Swedish Police Authority