In the past two weeks, several elderly individuals in Innlandet, Norway, have collectively been scammed out of nearly five million Norwegian kroner. The Innlandet Police District is urging residents to ask verification questions if they receive calls from individuals claiming to be from a bank or the police.
According to Rune Otterstad, Police Inspector in the Innlandet Police District, organized criminals residing in Norway are targeting and scamming elderly people. They contact the victims, pretending to be from a bank or the police, and inform them that they are being defrauded, claiming that someone has gained control over their bank accounts.
“These fraudsters offer assistance and then proceed to ask for bank account numbers, bank IDs, passwords, and sensitive information,” emphasizes Otterstad. He further states that the police or banks would never request such information.
Over the past two weeks, the Innlandet Police District has received several reports and complaints from individuals who have either been targeted or scammed. While some have lost smaller sums of money, there have also been cases where victims have been swindled out of over one million kroner.
Investigating these cases can be challenging, highlighting the importance of being cautious when receiving calls claiming that one is being defrauded. The police advise individuals who receive such calls to ask verification questions in response, as scammers often hang up in such instances. Another piece of advice is to hang up oneself.
“If you are unsure, hang up. You can contact your bank or local police yourself to inquire if they were the ones who called,” advises Otterstad.
In the event that one has been scammed, it is crucial to promptly contact the police and one’s bank. The police are aware of cases where they have successfully stopped transactions, but they require timely information, including phone numbers, bank account details, and the time of the call.
“We will never ask for your bank ID or password,” assures Otterstad.
Stop, Think, Verify:
- Do not share your Bank ID, passwords, or sensitive personal information, regardless of who asks.
- Ask for the name of the person contacting you and end the call.
- Use official channels to contact institutions. Fraudsters often pretend to be from your bank or the police, falsifying phone numbers, email addresses, and SMS messages.
- Be cautious about clicking on links in SMS and emails. Instead, search for the website independently rather than using the provided link.
- Be wary of individuals using love, investments, and money to establish contact with you. If something seems too good to be true, it may unfortunately lead to fraud and deception.
For more information, visit: https://www.politiet.no/rad/beskytt-deg-mot-svindel-og-id-tyveri/
https://www.politiet.no//aktuelt-tall-og-fakta/aktuelt/nyheter/2023/06/30/svindler-eldre-personer/