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More than 400,000 people in Finland have lost money to digital fraud, according to a recent survey by industry group Finanssiala ry. The figure amounts to 7.3 percent of the adult population.
Among them, an estimated 107,000 people reported losing a significant sum of money. The data was published on Thursday by Finanssiala, which represents the Finnish financial sector.
Online and phone scams have spiked during the summer months, especially impersonation calls posing as bank officials.
The OP Financial Group said fraud calls have become more frequent in recent weeks.
In a common scenario, criminals contact individuals claiming to be from their bank. The caller warns of an alleged large payment about to leave the customer’s account. Victims are then manipulated into giving up their online banking credentials and confirming a transfer to a so-called “secure account.”
According to Arno Ahosniemi, CEO of Finanssiala ry, the concept of a bank-operated secure account is entirely fictitious.
“There is no such thing as a bank’s secure account, and there never has been,” said Ahosniemi. “If someone asks for your online banking credentials or talks about a secure account, it’s a scam.”
Authorities warn that customers with access to business or association accounts are also at risk. If criminals obtain credentials linked to such accounts, those funds can be drained as well.
Many scams begin online, often through social media or classified ad platforms. Fraudulent adverts may redirect users to phishing sites. In some cases, search engine results, paid for by fraudsters, lead to fraudulent banking websites that appear legitimate.
The scam methods continue to evolve, but the trigger remains the same: urgency and fear.
Security officials recommend that individuals never provide banking details over the phone or through unknown websites, and advise using only verified
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
