Fraud Attempts Target Elderly in Karlstad: Police Warn of Scammers

Ongoing scams targeting elderly residents in Karlstad raise police warnings.

Key Points

  • • Police report multiple fraud attempts targeting elderly individuals in Karlstad.
  • • Scammers impersonate police to claim assistance in securing valuables.
  • • Some elderly victims successfully ended calls with scammers, indicating awareness.
  • • Police urge residents to verify identities and not to open doors to strangers.

In Karlstad, police are alerting the public to a series of fraudulent attempts targeting elderly residents, where scammers impersonate police officers to falsely assure victims that they need to secure their valuables. Reports indicate that on May 28, 2025, multiple victims—around ten in total—received calls from individuals claiming to be from the police, stating that they were calling to help due to rising burglary incidents in the area. These incidents are part of a troubling trend of scams aimed at vulnerable elderly individuals.

The police have issued stern warnings regarding these scams, emphasizing that authentic officers will never contact individuals to assist in securing possessions. In fact, they advocate for the elderly to be vigilant: "We never contact individuals to secure valuables," a police spokesperson asserted. Fortunately, some elderly residents were able to recognize the fraud and terminated these calls, suggesting that the police's preventive messaging is gaining traction.