The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has issued a consumer alert about a rise in scams built around fake loan offers, noting that most of its warnings about suspected fraud in the first half of 2025 concerned false promises of loans. During the spring, the authority warned about 108 names linked to suspected fraudsters, largely connected to such loan scams. The scams typically involve an offer of a loan conditional on the consumer paying an upfront fee, usually a few thousand Swedish kronor but sometimes tens of thousands, after which no loan is paid out and both the fraudster and the money disappear. The authority warns that scammers often pressure consumers to decide quickly and may advertise zero interest, no credit check, and even a promise to refund all or part of the fee; when victims suspect fraud, scammers may threaten debt collection or, in some cases, imprisonment over invented charges. It also highlights cases where fraudsters impersonate the authority or other public bodies via phone, text message, or email, including by offering to help recover funds lost in prior investment scams or urging consumers to click links to “manage” a case; consumers are advised to avoid lenders without authorisation and to verify firms via the authority’s warning list and company register, as well as IOSCO’s I-SCAN database.
Finansinspektionen 2025-07-16
Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority warns of fake loan offers after flagging 108 suspected scammers
The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has issued a consumer alert about a surge in scams involving fake loan offers, with most warnings in early 2025 related to fraudulent loan promises. Scammers demand upfront fees, then disappear without providing loans, often pressuring consumers with threats or impersonating public bodies. The authority advises consumers to verify lenders through its warning list, company register, and IOSCO’s I-SCAN database.