Over the past two years, thousands of Swedes, many older people, have been exposed to telephone fraud. More than 6,000 crimes have been reported. The fraudsters have stated that they called from the bank and managed to get the victims to log in to the internet bank via bank ID or bank box, after which their accounts were linked.

One of the victims is Astrid Brorsson in Vindeln who lost SEK 200,000 in a fraud last fall. Money she tried in vain to get back from her bank.

- Yes, of course it feels shit. I can not do anything. It's just trying to move on, says Astrid Brorsson to SVT News.

Several SEK 100 million away

To access the scams, a year ago, the police launched a special national operation, "Operation fog". An effort where several police regions, banks and bank IDs cooperated.

- People got rid of SEK 100 to 200 million, but now we have reduced the number of scams by 90 percent. The scams reached their peak last late summer. Then people got rid of SEK 40 million a month, which we have reduced to SEK 4 million, says Crime Commissioner Jan Olsson to SVT News.

6-7 criminal networks

There are several criminal networks that have committed the crimes and they have been located in different places in the country. In Sollentuna, 21 people were recently sentenced to prison for between two and six years, including for serious fraud and money laundering. The principals were convicted of 75 cases of fraud and will also pay damages of SEK 7.5 million. Judgments against other networks are found in southern and western Sweden.

-There are 6-7 different networks operating across the country. Many of them are professional criminals and have previously been involved in serious crime, says Jan Olsson.

You often find it difficult to resolve this type of fraud, why did you succeed now?

-In many cases, the money is taken out of Sweden and bounces between several accounts in several countries. Then it stops because it is difficult to get the authorities of other countries to help. In these various shacks, the money has stayed in Sweden. They have been transferred to goalkeepers whom we have seized and then been able to trace the money to the captains.

Hard to get the money back

But even though several of the networks are no longer operating, it is difficult for those affected to get the money back.

- We have managed to freeze some of the money. But who can get money back or not is nothing we can influence, but it is up to the banks. However, I think it can still feel good for anyone who has been deceived that many of those who have committed the crimes get jail time, says Crime Commissioner Jan Olsson.