Contact fraud reports fall, but many victims stay silent

Reports of contact fraud to Danish police have fallen, but many victims may never report being scammed, DR reports. Police received 10,583 reports in 2024 and 7,944 in 2025. By October 4 this year, they had received 6,193.

A 75-year-old man from Fyn was among the victims last year, losing 2.3 million kroner to a fake bank employee and a fake PET agent.

Police Inspector Mads Helios of Copenhagen Police said he could not point to one clear reason for the decline. Since 2025, police have coordinated investigations across the country’s police districts rather than handling cases mainly district by district.

The national approach helps police identify when a large fraud network is generating reports in several districts at once. When police locate a network and make arrests, reports can fall sharply, Helios said.

Contact fraud involves an unknown perpetrator making unsolicited contact and using a false pretext to manipulate or exploit someone’s trust for financial gain. It includes fake bank couriers, telephone scams, dating scams and investment fraud.

Sine Gregersen, director of the Center for Economic IT Fraud, which helps victims of contact fraud, said many victims do not report what happened. Both she and police said the true number of cases may therefore be higher.

Helios said shame can stop victims from coming forward, but added that scams can be very difficult to recognise because skilled criminals are behind them. Anyone can be deceived, he said.

Gregersen welcomed police efforts to pursue larger networks in Denmark, but said it remains difficult for police to act when perpetrators are abroad. That leaves victims vulnerable, she said, and can mean the crime never results in punishment.

Helios acknowledged that the problem crosses national borders. Police are working to build international links and closer cooperation with authorities in other countries, he said.

Contact fraud can have severe consequences, both said. Gregersen knows of one victim who lost 11 million kroner, as well as victims forced to sell their homes at auction and families that have broken apart.

Helios advised people never to disclose their account number, CPR number or MitID codes. He also urged people to talk openly about digital scams, question unexpected callers and hang up if they are unsure.

The Danish Crime Prevention Council advises people to pause before clicking, paying or sharing personal information; watch for pressure or unusual changes in communication; verify identities through official channels; ask someone they trust for advice if uncertain; and never share personal information or codes, even with family and friends.