The number of phishing emails, especially those impersonating banks, government authorities, and courier services, has risen significantly in Finland. The purpose of these scams is to steal personal information.
Kilpi, an app developed by Suomen Telemarkkinointiliitto, has recently detected a notable increase in phishing emails. In particular, there has been a rise in fraudulent messages posing as banks, government agencies, and postal or courier services.
“Due to recent data breaches, criminals have obtained a large number of contact details, which may explain the increase in phishing emails. It’s especially important to be cautious when receiving messages that demand urgent actions and contain links,” says Arto Isokoski, the founder of Suomen Telemarkkinointiliitto (the Finnish Telemarketing Association).
Phishing emails impersonating banks are continually common. These emails may ask the recipient to update bank account information, often threatening to close or restrict the account if immediate action is not taken.
There have also been scams impersonating authorities, particularly police. In these emails, the recipient is threatened with fines or legal consequences if they don’t follow the instructions provided. These messages can be particularly intimidating, prompting recipients to act quickly, which is exactly what the scammers want.
Recently, parcel scams have become more widespread, urging recipients to click on a link to check the status of a delivery. These emails are often made to appear as if they come from well-known postal or courier services and can be easily believed if the recipient is expecting a package from the supposed sender.
Other active scams include phishing emails sent in the name of Netflix, offering a “90-day free membership.” Many phishing emails also take the form of payment reminders. For instance, emails sent in the name of Intrum include a link to “vahvistasuomi(.)com,” which leads to a fraudulent site. Loan offers and investment scams originating from foreign numbers are also on the rise.
“The Kilpi app offers an effective defense against these phishing attempts by blocking phishing emails from reaching users. This prevents them from falling victim to parcel scams, even if they are expecting a delivery,” explains Isokoski.
