Recognise a scam

Scammers rush you, play on your emotions and ask for money or bank credentials. Here are the most common scams in Finland and what to do.

1. Stop. Urgency is the scammer's tool.

2. Never give out bank credentials, card details or your personal identity code.

3. Check for yourself from an official source.

If you have already been scammed

Call your bank immediately and block your cards and online banking credentials. Your bank's number is on your card and on the bank's website.
Report the crime to the police, also online: poliisi.fi. Keep messages and receipts.
Change passwords the scammer may have seen, starting with your email.
Get support: Victim Support Finland 116 006. Being scammed is nothing to be ashamed of.

A collector at your door or outside a shop asks for money, often for sick children, but cannot give a fundraising permit number.

Ask for the fundraising permit number.
Check the fundraiser on Keräysvahti and donate only to the account in the permit.
Don't open your wallet in front of a stranger.

The caller claims your account is being misused and asks for your credentials or to move money to a "safe account".

Texts or emails about parcels, taxes or your bank, with urgency and a link to a fake website.

A message from an unknown number in a family member's name, soon asking you to pay a bill.

Ads featuring celebrities promise quick profits. An "adviser" gets you to transfer more and more money.

Check the company on the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority's warning list.
Never install remote access software at someone's request.

Someone you met online falls in love quickly but can never meet. Then they need money.

More tools are available in Finnish: Tunnista huijaus (suomeksi) · Keräysvahti

Sources: the Finnish police, the Financial Supervisory Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre. Keräysvahti is not a government service.