Scam text messages and phishing
Bluff-sms och bluffmejl - Engelska
Unfortunately, scam text messages and phishing are very common. Be careful about what you click on and never disclose private information such as account numbers or log-in details.
Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.
Before you read
If you have become stuck to a subscription due to phishing or a scam text message, for example for dietary supplements or a streaming service, you can read more in our article about subscription traps.
Read more about subscription traps
Keep this in mind
Do not respond to text messages or emails you think are scams.
Never give out personal information such as your personal identity number, account number, card number of log-in details.
Contact your bank if you have disclosed your account number, card number or similar information.
Remember that an offer that sounds too good to be true is usually not true.
What are phishing emails and scam text messages?
Scam text messages and phishing emails are sent with the intention of deceiving you into giving away money, hijacking your accounts or stealing your personal information.
The message may appear to come from anyone, such as your bank, an authority or a well-known company.
It often includes links to fake websites with web addresses that closely resemble the real ones.
All scam text messages and emails contain various types of prompts that the scammer wants you to act on. To fall for the scam, you must act on the prompt. Examples of common prompts:
Click on a link. The link takes you to a fake website. On the fake page, your personal information is requested, such as card details, passwords or codes.
Call a specific number or email a specific email address. If you do so, scammers will try to trick you into giving away money or valuable information.
Transfer money. This could involve fake fundraisers, for example.
How to be deceived
Frauds in the form of scam text messages or fishing emails can take various forms.
For instance, it could involve fraudulent messages claiming to be from your bank. In these messages, scammers attempt to make you click on a link by making you anxious or curious.
It might also be a phishing text message from a postal service provider. The message can appear very realistic, stating that you have paid too little in shipping fees or that your package is stuck in customs. Be vigilant and consider whether you have actually ordered something. Also, check the sender's details. If you are unsure, contact the postal service provider yourself and inquire.
At times, you may receive phishing messages from a streaming service. This is becoming increasingly common. Claims may include that your subscription has expired, payments have not been processed or that you need to update your information.
In other cases, the goal may be to obtain your login credentials or infect your computer with viruses or similar threats.
You might also receive a phishing text message regarding a fake contest or survey, or various types of offers. These offers are often too good to be true. If you're not careful and click through, you might get stuck in various types of subscriptions.
Read more about subscription traps
Reduce the risk of being deceived
Advice to reduce the risk of being deceived.
Always be careful when you receive emails or text messages from a sender that is unfamiliar to you. Check carefully who sent the email or text message. Scammers often tries to appear as a serious company to make you believe that it is a serious message.
Do not click on links and do not open attachments in emails that are not trustworthy.
Never give out any private information such as your personal identity number, account number or card number in emails or text messages.
Never give out log-in details for your internet bank or your bank ID. It may appear that the email or text message is sent from your bank but your bank will never ask you to send them log-in details or bank information.
Do not participate in competitions that come from senders that you are unfamiliar with.
Remember that an offer that sounds too good to be true is usually not true.
What you should do if you have disclosed personal data
If you have sent personal data in an email or text messages, for example your card number of log-in details for your internet bank, you should contact your bank immediately and inform them of this.
If you have donated money to a fake charity, you can check if the bank can stop the withdrawal. If you discover that someone has made purchases or withdrawn money using your card, you must report the fraud to the police. You should also dispute the unauthorized purchases or withdrawals with your bank.
Report fraud to the Swedish Police
If you suspect that there is fraud behind the email or text message you can report it to the police.
Go to the website for the Swedish Police (in Swedish)
Report scam text messages to 7726
Many operators have their own numbers where you can report fraud. However, to simplify the process for customers, operators have established a common short number, 7726, so that all suspicious text messages are easily gathered in one place. This allows for the detection of more cases and enables all operators to take action simultaneously.
What to do if you want to report a text message:
Forward the message to the short number 7726. The numbers correspond to the word SPAM on the phone keypad and are globally established for reporting phishing text messages. This allows operators to block fraudulent text messages from being sent to more people.
Source: Konsumentverket
Proofread: 8 March 2024