More and more Finns are falling for the messages of investment scammers. Finanssiala ry’s expert urges victims to contact the bank and the police.
According to the expert, the best way to avoid scams is to take it easy when you receive a special payment-related message. Colourbox
Finns lost 44.2 million euros to cybercriminals last year. The total sum of defrauded funds was almost 77 million, but the banks were able to freeze and return 32.7 million euros, says Finanssiala ry in its announcement of the information it collected from the banks.
According to the financial industry, the total number of digital scams increased by as much as 65 percent from the previous year, and an increase of as much as 91 percent was seen in investment scams. Among the types of scams, investment scams also accounted for the largest amount of euros, which was more than 16 million.
Investment scams are often long-lasting and may last for several years. In them, the investor may also be paid a return in the beginning, so that the operation seems credible.
– When the victim has determined that the system is functional and reliable and takes a 20,000 euro quick deposit for additional investment, the funds can no longer be redeemed, Finanssiala ry’s director responsible for fraud and crime prevention Niko Saxholm says in the announcement.
According to him, especially in the case of investment scams, the number obtained from bank statistics is probably only the tip of the iceberg, as victims often do not inform the bank that they have been scammed.
– The actual fraud sometimes takes place, for example, through cryptocurrency brokerage services, in which case it does not come to the attention of the banks. The actual number of investment scams is therefore probably at least three times higher, Saxholm estimates.
Do this
Last year, several scams were spread via text messages in the name of various authorities. screen capture / IL
According to the financial industry, when a scam hits you, you should immediately contact your bank and then the police. According to the organization, the action should be done specifically in this order, because the sooner the bank receives information about a possible scam, the greater the chance of getting the money back.
According to Saxholm, the best way to avoid scams is to take it easy when you receive a special message.
– If the taxman gets a text message saying that I will go to jail if I don’t pay this overdue tax right away, you should think about whether the Finnish taxman really works like this. It is also worth considering the existence of huge quick profits for a fast investor a few times. When you get a slightly suspicious message, it’s good to first stop and think about whether it’s worth reacting to this right away, says Saxholm.
He reminds that being cheated causes the victim more than just financial losses. Self-accusations and a feeling of helplessness may cause shame, in which case the victim does not want to tell their loved ones about what happened.
– If you fall victim to a scam, don’t stay alone, but boldly seek help from your loved ones and, if necessary, professionals. Becoming a victim is not anyone’s choice, Saxholm emphasizes.