The effort against the grouping has been given the working name "Captain Hook" by the police.

According to the police, the cluster is behind at least 266 completed crimes since the end of 2019 where more than SEK 154 million has disappeared through so-called "smishing frauds", a form of telephone fraud where the first contact takes place via text message.

The text message, which appears to come from the bank, states that a fraud has taken place in the account and contains a number, which is said to go to the blocking service.

In the conversation there, the victims, who have mainly been entrepreneurs in western Sweden, are manipulated into creating a new bank ID which the fraudsters take over.

Often by tricking them into installing a screen sharing tool.

- It is industrial and system-threatening as it risks destroying trust in the banks and bank ID, says Stefan Larsson, head of investigation and coordinator for the police's work against national serial crime.

Larger amounts when the crimes are directed at companies

The fact that the crimes are directed at entrepreneurs means that larger amounts can disappear before the bank reacts, as companies more often carry out larger transfers.

In the prosecution at Stockholm District Court, a 26-year-old man from Malmö is suspected of gross fraud in six cases where approximately SEK 15 million has disappeared.

According to the investigation, the man has arranged and controlled money goalkeepers who receive money from the gross fraud in their accounts, before the money is passed on to foreign countries, purchases of cryptocurrencies or withdrawn in cash.

- He is something of an administrator in this constellation of a few principals, says Stefan Larsson, head of investigation.

Gang arranges goalkeepers

According to the police, the recruitment of goalkeepers has taken place in collaboration with several criminal networks, including the Vårbyn network.

The fact that it is gangs that are linked to deadly violence makes it difficult for many to say no to being used as goalkeepers according to the police.

- There is the unspoken threat to people who are asked to stand up.

You may not be shot to death, but you may get a bullet in the leg or something similar, says Stefan Larsson, head of investigation.

The trial against the 26-year-old, who is in custody and denies the crime, is now ongoing.

More are suspected in the case, mainly goalkeepers, but prosecution is expected later.