Fake Swish - how to avoid being scammed

Reports of fake Swish apps are emerging in several locations around the country. They are difficult to stop and it's easy to get deceived in stressful situations. Swish owner Getswish and the police are now making a strong effort to stop the spread in social media.

» Updated:

» Published:

Fake Swish - how to avoid being scammed
Photo: Isabell Höjman/TT

Share this article

We flag these things and try to push for the platforms to remove them, says Lotta Mauritzson, crime prevention officer at the police's national fraud center.

It's been a few years since the first reports of fraud with fake Swish apps emerged, according to Mauritzson.

"Right now, it's about a limited number of fake apps. We are actively working to shut down the type of social media accounts and websites that spread fake apps," writes Swish in an email response to questions from TT.

"They pop up in different places"

Fraudsters tend to strike in stressful situations. It's easier to succeed with the scam if the person receiving payment is stressed and has difficulty checking if the payment has actually been made, according to Mauritzson.

Like at restaurants or festivals. Where there are a lot of people, she says.

Last weekend, reports of Swish fraud emerged in Varberg. But there are no geographical patterns in the reports the police receive.

They pop up in different places in the country, says Mauritzson.

She is not aware of any ongoing investigations into suspected manufacturers of the fake apps and adds that it's difficult to track down those who actually use the apps for fraud.

Those who display a fake payment can be difficult to trace since we don't have any digital tracks.

Private individuals can also be affected

Private individuals can also be affected when a buyer is supposed to pay with Swish, warns Mauritzson:

It can be difficult to see and determine if it's a fake app just by looking at the payer's screen. Therefore, it's extremely important to make sure the money comes into your account. That's what you should look for.

Otherwise, there's a risk it's a fake app, something that looks like Swish.

Swish also recommends that users not trust images on the buyer's mobile phone. Instead, check if the money has actually come into your own account, is the message.

"The merchant can only confirm receipt of payment by using the Swish business app, having Swish integrated into the cash register, or checking the bank account," writes Jenny Ragnartz at Swish owner Getswish's communications department to TT.

The mobile payment service Swish – launched in 2012 – is operated by Getswish AB. It is owned by six of Sweden's largest banks: Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Länsförsäkringar, Nordea, SEB, Swedbank, and Sparbankerna.

Other banks are connected to Swish's payment system, so their customers can use the service.

For the millions of private individuals who use the Swish app, the service is free when transferring money to other private individuals or paying in stores, online, or at restaurants. Swish instead generates its revenue from fees charged to businesses that use Swish. The fees vary depending on how the business uses Swish.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Asian Stock Markets Rise Following Trump's Trade Talks Update

Asian Stock Markets Rise Following Trump's Trade Talks Update

Federal Reserve Member Lisa Cook Allowed to Stay by Appellate Court

Federal Reserve Member Lisa Cook Allowed to Stay by Appellate Court

Tesla Stock Surges 3.6 Percent Boosting Wall Street Indexes

Tesla Stock Surges 3.6 Percent Boosting Wall Street Indexes

Trump Proposes Ending Quarterly Reports for Wall Street Companies

Trump Proposes Ending Quarterly Reports for Wall Street Companies

EU Regulators Seek Stricter Crypto Supervision by ESMA

EU Regulators Seek Stricter Crypto Supervision by ESMA

Elon Musk Buys $1 Billion in Tesla Shares, Boosting Stock by 7%

Elon Musk Buys $1 Billion in Tesla Shares, Boosting Stock by 7%

China Investigates Nvidia for Competition Law Violations

China Investigates Nvidia for Competition Law Violations

USA and China Agree on Tiktok Deal Framework

USA and China Agree on Tiktok Deal Framework

Black Soldier Fly Oil and Protein Developed for Animal Feed

Black Soldier Fly Oil and Protein Developed for Animal Feed

Basmati Rice Dispute Stalls EU-India Trade Agreement

Basmati Rice Dispute Stalls EU-India Trade Agreement

Gaming Companies Lead Gains in Slightly Rising Stockholm Stock Market

Gaming Companies Lead Gains in Slightly Rising Stockholm Stock Market

Sweden Construction Costs Rise 0.4% in August Amid Higher Electricity Prices

Sweden Construction Costs Rise 0.4% in August Amid Higher Electricity Prices

Swedes Report Decreased Satisfaction with Banks This Year

Swedes Report Decreased Satisfaction with Banks This Year

Fashion Trade Sales Rise for Third Consecutive Month

Fashion Trade Sales Rise for Third Consecutive Month

Powell's Rate Signal Influences Swedish Households Too

Powell's Rate Signal Influences Swedish Households Too

Asian Markets Rise Despite Weak China Data

Asian Markets Rise Despite Weak China Data

ANZ Bank Faces Record Fines for Bond Deal Misconduct

ANZ Bank Faces Record Fines for Bond Deal Misconduct

Trump Welcomes Foreign Investment and Workforce in the USA

Trump Welcomes Foreign Investment and Workforce in the USA

Government Boosts Support for Sweden's Regional Airports

Government Boosts Support for Sweden's Regional Airports

Klarna CEO: Embracing "Swedishness" as a Key Asset

Klarna CEO: Embracing "Swedishness" as a Key Asset