Sweden's Government Takes Strong Measures Against Telephone Fraud Targeting the Elderly

The Swedish government is intensifying efforts to combat the surge of telephone and SMS fraud predominantly affecting elderly citizens. In 2023 alone, around 29,000 cases of telephone fraud were reported nationwide, culminating in financial losses exceeding 700 million SEK, according to data released by the Swedish finance department.

To tackle this growing threat, the government has proposed new regulations requiring telecom operators to block calls and messages suspected of fraudulent intent or designed to deceive large groups. The evaluation of such suspicious activities will rely on technical indicators, such as unusual traffic patterns and specific details from reported senders. Civil Minister Erik Slottner (KD) stressed the urgency of this measure, citing the devastating impact on older individuals and the fact that these fraudulent schemes serve as lucrative income streams for criminal gangs.

Set to take effect on August 1, 2026, the new rules aim to prevent fraud attempts before reaching potential victims, thereby strengthening protection for both private citizens and businesses.

In a related fight against digital fraud, Svenska medieutgivare, an umbrella group of major Swedish media houses, has filed a police complaint against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. They accuse the social media giant of turning a blind eye to fraudulent advertisements on its platform that exploit media brands and cause significant financial and psychological harm to Swedes. Reuters reports reveal that 10% of Meta's 2024 projected revenue, around 152 billion SEK, is linked to such deceptive ads.

The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority disclosed that over 5,000 Swedes suffered losses amounting to half a billion SEK during the summer of 2025 due to scams propagated through these ads. Investigations highlighted by SVT's "Uppdrag granskning" reveal that international crime organizations orchestrate these fraudulent advertising campaigns. The complaint against Zuckerberg includes charges of fraud, complicity in fraud, and illegal use of media names and trademarks.

These government and institutional actions reflect a comprehensive approach to countering telecom and online fraud in Sweden, aiming to protect vulnerable groups and uphold the integrity of trusted media institutions.