Number of frauds increases in country

The number of frauds has increased clearly in the country during the recent years, said a press release issued by National Police Board on Wednesday.

In 2017, the police received more than 30,000 reports relating to fraud in Finland. The authorities have been kept busy by bogus police officer scams and telephone banking scams.

October is the European Cyber Security Month. A one-week Europol Cyber Scams campaign warns of current scams spreading on the internet. In Finland along with the police, Finance Finland and Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority participate in the campaign.

“It is important to continuously share information for preventing fraud. The perpetrators find out new ways to try and cheat people, and on the net such scams may be spread extensively. Everyone should have basic knowledge of different types of scams and how to protect oneself against them,” said Chief Superintendent of the National Police Board Jyrki Aho.

It is particularly important that senior citizens are protected against possible attempted scams.

The next of kin and professionals working with senior citizens are in key position here.

“It is good to advise them how to avoid scams through different channels in various ways. An alleged scam should always be reported to the police. The report should be made, even if no offence had been committed yet. The reports help the police to follow the fraud situation and prevent future offences,” Aho said.