Both attempted fraud and completed crimes where criminals target older people's gold are increasing. Right now, Western Sweden and the Stockholm area are particularly affected.
We see a trend where they focus on gold, says Lotta Mauritzson, coordinator at the national fraud center.
The fraudsters can call and claim to be from an authority or bank, explaining that they need to take care of jewelry and valuables because it's unsafe to keep them at home. Shortly after, or during the call, someone rings the doorbell to collect the items.
"Ongoing crimes"
According to Lotta Mauritzson, the frauds often have connections to criminal networks.
We see that especially "collectors" have connections to the networks. These are people you absolutely do not want in your home, she says.
She urges people to immediately hang up, lock the door, and contact the police if a suspected fraudster calls.
Neither the police nor the insurance company will come to your home to secure your assets. If someone claims they will, it's a fraud. Then you should end the call and report it to the police. If they say someone is on their way to your home, you should call 112, because then it's an ongoing crime.
"Crime is shifting"
According to Mauritzson, the high gold prices may be an explanation for the increase. But also that other forms of fraud have become more difficult.
Previously, there has been a very strong focus on account transfers, and we have worked a lot together with the banks. We try to work preventively, but that also means that crime shifts and changes.
