February 18, 21:00, Elderly crime, Östergötland County

21:00 Elderly fraud/elderly abuse, Linköping and Motala

Two cases of fraud against elderly people were reported on Tuesday evening. The first in Motala, and a little later in Linköping. It is currently unclear how much money has been lost. The police have filed a report on elderly fraud and abuse and will continue to investigate this further.

The modus operandi of the frauds can vary slightly, but often involves the scammer sending an SMS with information that the person has ordered goods from a specific company and has been a victim of fraud.

The person affected is encouraged to call a number and is then offered help in reporting this to their insurance company. The scammer often also asks for pictures of valuable items found in the home.

In several cases, the person affected has subsequently been visited at home and handed over jewelry and valuable items worth hundreds of thousands of kronor. In the two current cases, no home visit has occurred.

The thieves target elderly people, with the aim of deceiving them out of valuable items and/or bank cards with PIN codes.

It is very important to follow the police's advice on contacting unknown persons.

There are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Do not ring the number given in the SMS. Instead, call the company's central switchboard and ask if they have tried to contact you.
• Hang up if you don't know who is calling.
• Do not open the door to strangers.
• Never give out bank cards, PIN codes, or bank ID.
• Never transfer money on someone else's request.
• Be aware that the scammer can claim to be from a company, insurance company, or even a government agency. If you're the slightest bit unsure: call and check.