Scams

Scam-related advertisements, letters, websites and phone calls are carefully planned and carried out so that they seem to be genuine. Anyone, regardless of age or educational level, can be victimized by fraud.

Swindlers are often professionals with connections to international financial crime.

Fraud victims usually have very slim chances of getting their money back, so the best way to avoid problems is to recognize dangers and protect yourself.

One reason why frauds can often be pulled off successfully is that they effectively utilise psychological methods:

• They appeal to people's hopes for quickly becoming rich, improving their quality of life, or losing weight
• They point to the popularity of a service or product
• They cite authoritative sources
• They say an offer is valid only for a very short time, or that supplies of a product are limited
• They supply a gift of nominal value so that the consumer feels obligated to return the favour and has a harder time refusing the offer

Stop

• Be sceptical about unexpected announcements that promise a better than average return on your money or claim that you have won something.
• It is not a good idea to make decisions about major purchases on a whim. If you are being pressured to make a decision immediately, ask for more time. You can always agree to the offer later.
• Do not supply your bank account or credit card information unless you are completely sure that the recipient is trustworthy and that the payment is safe.
• Look for information about the company or other entity making an offer. Find the contact information and see if you can use it to reach someone by phone, for example. Legitimate Internet stores provide their mailing address and information such as a Trade Register ID.
• Check that the web address of an Internet store is correct. Scammers can create addresses that resemble those of well-known companies.
• Also check your bills to make sure they reflect orders you have placed. A fake bill can look just like a real one. This scam relies on some consumers accidentally paying bills for something they did not buy.
• Ask for additional information, but remember that replying to a fraudulent e-mail, for example, can lead to a deluge of junk mail. Your reply shows that your address is valid and identifies you as a possible target for scams.
• Be cautious if you are asked to participate in a charity drive for an organisation you are not familiar with. The name may be similar to that of some other, reputable organisation. Ask if the organisation has a permit granted by the State Provincial Office and what portion of the funds collected will be spent directly for the purpose indicated. Before you give any money, check with the State Provincial Office about the legality of the drive.
• If you are considering investing, check the Finnish Financial Supervision Authority warning list of suspicious service providers. The Finnish Financial Supervision Authority also maintains lists of companies that have a permit for conducting investment activities in Finland or the EEA and of securities prospectuses that it has approved.