Sweden tells citizens to be ruder to phone scammers as criminals take advantage of good manners

Date:
Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:10:00 +0000

Description:
Phone scammers expect their targets to be polite, so Swedish authorities have suggested a different strategy when dealing with unsolicited calls: profanities.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Swedish celebrities are
fronting a campaign to be rude to phone scammers The majority of Swedish
phone scam victims are over 60 Swedish police state that fraudsters collect around 5.7 billion SEK a year, over 431 million Swedish celebrities have been hired to help the national government promote the use of profanity when dealing with telephone scammers.

The famously well-mannered Swedes are being encouraged to employ
potty-mouthed responses when bothered by vishing scams and other attempts to steal money over the phone. Swedish law enforcement states that 5.7 billion Swedish krona 431 million or $575.3 million is stolen every year by fraudsters, many of which operate over the phone. The campaign is targeting over 60s as they are the main target for scammers. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Targeting over 60s Christina Schollin, Claes Elfsberg, Suzanne Reuter, and Lennart Jhkel are participating in the
campaign, which aims to provide elderly Swedes with the confidence to tell phone scammers to go away with whatever expletives come to mind.

By aiming for the over 60 demographic, the criminals perpetuating the crimes aim to leverage feelings of trust in institutions, often posing as government agencies or banks, often initiating contact via text message. You may like Getting an unusual amount of spam calls and messages? Youre not alone Heres what we know and what you can do This WhatsApp scam saw a Hong Kong man lose $1.27 million here's how FBI claims fake cop scams are costing victims billions here's what to look out for

When the target calls the number in the message, the scammers employ tried-and-tested scripts to persuade the victim of the importance of their call, applying subtle stress and panic to push them into parting with their cash.

But the campaign is more than about turning Sweden into a land of
sewer-minded insults -- over-60s are being educated not just in delivering a timely profanity, but also in recognizing when they are being scammed. With the new campaign, swearing is merely one option. Being confident to simply hang up, or tell a fake cop scammer to go away, are both good alternatives. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Don't be fooled The notion of being rude to a stranger on the phone is not one that comes naturally to the Swedish people, which is why the campaign has been launched with well-known celebrities. Actress Christina Schollin, journalist Claes Elfsberg, actor Lennart Jhkel, are three of the famous faces, and all have one thing in common; like the key demographic of scam victims, they are over 60.

Swedish comedian and actress Suzanne Reuter is the first to feature, and says "I'm in the police campaign because it's a terrible crime that affects so
many people. If I can use my voice to help someone not be fooled, then I want to do it. Many of us are raised to always be polite and accommodating, and there are many of my generation. But today you have to dare to be a little more questioning.

She adds: It's not nasty - it's self-protection. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/sweden-tells-citizens-to-be-ruder-to-phone-scamm ers-as-criminals-take-advantage-of-good-manners


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