13 December 08.35, Fraud, Linköping

On Saturday morning, a report of attempted fraud is filed in Berga, Linköping.

An elderly woman in her 90s is called by someone who says she should come and exchange her smoke alarm. But the woman suspects something, partly because it's a weekend and she has recently received new smoke alarms. She checks with her landlord, who has no plans for a home visit or exchange.

This is a wise and entirely correct action by the woman, who not only checks but also calls the police to report the incident. In Region Öst, the police have been working in a new way since the spring to catch and prosecute the often organized gangs that engage in fraud. The police urge everyone to report, even attempts, and initiate investigations to cluster cases and potentially link them to each other.

The scammers' modus operandi, method of operation, also changes. In this case, it was about a smoke alarm, but scammers can come up with many different ways to try to build trust and make physical home visits to steal valuable items. It has happened that they pretend to call from the police or other authorities, or that they, for example, need to read a water meter.

The police urge vigilance and to ask to be called back. If you feel uncertain or unsure, contact the police or a relative. Never let unknown people into the home.

The police also urge relatives of elderly people to talk to them about this. Scammers are often skilled and manipulative. Sometimes they scare the vulnerable person that something terrible has happened or will happen, in order to then be helpful and thereby lure valuable items or login information out of them.

If someone you don't know asks for bank information or other personal information - hang up!