Digital fraud in Finland has reached a level that many people still do not fully grasp. According to a recent survey by Finanssiala ry, over 400,000 adults in the country have already lost money to scams. That means more than seven percent of the adult population has been directly affected. What’s even more disturbing is that more than 100,000 people said they lost what they considered a significant amount.
These scams are not coming out of nowhere. They’ve been intensifying during the warmer months, with a sharp rise in calls and online traps. Many of the calls come from people pretending to be bank staff. They speak with authority. They warn about suspicious activity on your account. They say a large sum is about to be transferred out unless action is taken right away. The entire thing is scripted to create fear. It forces quick decisions. And that’s where it begins.
In most of these cases, the person on the phone tells the victim to move their money to what they describe as a secure account. They claim it’s controlled by the bank and will protect the funds from being stolen. But that “secure account” does not exist. It never did. Arno Ahosniemi, CEO of Finanssiala ry, said clearly that there is no such thing and banks will never ask for online credentials or transfers to external accounts for protection. The moment someone asks for your codes or speaks of a secure account, it is a scam.
The victims are not only private individuals. Anyone with access to business or association accounts is at risk too. Criminals target people who have access to large group funds. Once they have the login details, it can be over in seconds. And that’s just one layer of the problem.
A growing number of scams do not begin with a phone call at all. They start online. Some appear as sponsored ads in search engines. Others are fake listings in classified sites or subtle traps in social media. Clicking on these links can lead users to fake banking pages that are almost impossible to distinguish from the real ones. The fraudsters are spending money on ads. They are actively buying placement in search engines to lure people in. Once you enter your details on one of those sites, it’s done. They have everything they need.
What makes these scams work is not just the technology or the acting. It’s the emotional pressure. Urgency. Panic. Confusion. These moments are when people stop thinking clearly. And that’s exactly what the fraudsters count on.
Security officials are urging people to stop giving out any banking information over the phone. If someone claims they’re from your bank and something doesn’t feel right, hang up. Call your bank yourself using the number from the official website. Never click links from unknown sources, especially in ads or social media posts. Only use verified channels to log in to banking services. These small steps could prevent massive financial losses.
Finland’s digital fraud problem is not just about the money already lost. It’s about how fast the methods are evolving and how easy it is to fall for them. The scams are becoming more believable. The websites more convincing. The fear more real. If the public doesn’t become more aware and cautious, that 400,000 figure is only going to climb.
