Swedish Campaign Urges Over-60s to Hang Up on Phone Scammers

Swedish authorities have launched a campaign encouraging older people to challenge phone scammers, including by using profanity if it helps them end an unwanted call. Swearing is presented as one option; hanging up or telling a caller to go away are alternatives.

The campaign is aimed at people over 60, whom the source identifies as the main target for scammers. It features Swedish celebrities Christina Schollin, Claes Elfsberg, Suzanne Reuter and Lennart Jähkel. Reuter says many people of her generation were raised to be polite and accommodating, but should dare to question callers. She describes the approach as self-protection.

According to Swedish law enforcement, fraudsters steal 5.7 billion Swedish krona each year, equivalent in the source to £431 million or $575.3 million. The source says many scams are conducted by phone. Scammers may pose as government agencies or banks, sometimes first contacting targets by text message. If a target calls the number in a message, scammers can use prepared scripts and pressure to persuade them to hand over money.

The campaign also aims to help older people recognize scams, rather than focusing only on forceful responses. The source reports that Reuter is the first celebrity to appear in the campaign.