Police advice to prevent online scams: an open discussion

The number of online scams and the financial losses they cause have increased significantly in Finland. The police encourage people to openly discuss scams.

In 2025, 10,272 cases of online fraud resulting in financial losses of approximately €88 million were reported to the Finnish police.

Online scams can be effectively prevented when people remain alert and share information about them.

“It’s important to openly discuss online scams. Being scammed is nothing to be ashamed of and can happen to anyone. Many Finns have avoided financial loss because they recognised the scam based on warnings they had heard earlier,” says Detective Chief Inspector Juha Leinonen.

The police and partner authorities actively warn the public about scams through various channels.

“Even though scams have been in the news for years and the topic keeps cropping up in headlines, there is still a need for public awareness campaigns. Public awareness is key to preventing crime,” Leinonen says.