Norway reports rise in phone scams targeting children and teenagers

Telia has reported a rise in phone scams targeting children and teenagers, having blocked 21 million fraudulent attempts in Norway over the past three months. In September, the company’s data indicated that minors were the most frequently victimized group on its network, including a notable case where an eight-year-old was scammed out of over 2,000 NOK during a phone call.

Fraud expert Øivind Kristiansen emphasizes the necessity for parents to educate their children about scams and foreign numbers. According to Maja Lunde, an author and media researcher, parents often lack knowledge about the dangers that digital services pose to their children and advocate for clearer guidelines and regulations regarding children’s technology use. Norway continues to be among the countries most affected by telephone fraud in the Nordics, with over 40% of scam calls directed at it.

Kristiansen noted that while many seniors have historically been the primary targets of scams, children are increasingly becoming victims. He cited a case where a child received a call from an Armenian number and, after the scammer hung up, returned the call, resulting in a staggering two-and-a-half-hour conversation that could have cost around 2,250 NOK. Fortunately, the child’s bill was later credited by the company.

With the prevalence of children receiving smartphones at younger ages, Lunde stresses the need for parents to create boundaries around technology use. Kristiansen mentioned that although the number of blocked scam attempts has dropped compared to previous years, Norway remains a prime target, particularly from countries with less stringent telecommunications regulations. Telia is enhancing its reporting process for customers to report scams more efficiently.