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Swedish postal worker stole birthday card cash

A female employee at Sweden's postal service (Posten) in Malmö in southern Sweden has admitted to stealing money, gift vouchers and lottery tickets from letters that she sorted.

Published: 14 February 2011 11:44 CET

Swedish postal worker stole birthday card cash

The thefts were discovered after a hidden surveillance camera was installed over her work area following a tip, the Sydsvenskan newspaper reported.

The woman, who worked in mail sorting, would open colourful greeting envelopes, then pocket their contents.

Posten began its investigation in mid-September 2010, using the filmed material as evidence and the woman was arrested at the end of the month.

Upon being reported to the police, the woman confessed immediately. A subsequent search of her home uncovered large quantities of gift certificates, discount vouchers and lottery tickets, Sydsvenskan reported.

A Posten investigator told police estimated the woman could have stolen anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand kronor per day.

Several birthday cards, invitations and thank you cards were also found and police have managed to trace the majority of those concerned. A number of companies who sent gift cards have also been contacted in connection with the investigation.

The woman has been charged with breaching postal confidentiality and theft.

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How to avoid falling victim to tax scams in Sweden

Anyone who earned more than 22,208 kronor last year received their tax returns digitally last week, marking the start of tax season.

That also means an expected peak in tax-related scams, Skatteverket warns.

Most of the scams are so-called phishing scams, meaning attempts to steal the victims’ personal information. Fraudsters may for example email a person, pretending to represent Skatteverket, and ask them for, among other things, their banking details.

“We’re seeing these in all channels. They use fake emails, SMS, letters and in some cases even phone calls. It is particularly common in tax declaration times – just when we’re about to send out the tax returns, the e-service opens and it’s possible to declare – but above all when it’s time for tax rebates,” Jan Janowski, a Skatteverket expert, told Swedish news agency TT.

A scam email might for example state that you’re entitled to a tax rebate and that you should click a link to receive it. Don’t click any links, open any attachments or reply to the message. Skatteverket advises that you immediately delete the email or text message.

Another common scam is that you receive a text message claiming to be from Skatteverket, telling you that you owe them money and you need to log in to calculate the amount. The website you’re urged to log in via does not belong to Skatteverket. Don’t click the link.

The agency stresses that it never asks people for their banking details. The exception is that you may be asked for your bank account information if you log into Skatteverket’s website to declare your taxes, but that always first requires you to log into the site.

To receive your tax rebate, you need to inform Skatteverket of your bank account number. You do this not by clicking a link in an email or SMS, but by logging into their website using a digital ID, for example BankID, and submitting your details. Only do this on your own initiative. If someone calls you and asks you to log in with your BankID during the phone call, don’t do it. That’s another common scam.

Skatteverket will also never call you to ask for your bank account or credit card number.

It will be possible to declare your taxes from March 19th. You’ll receive any tax rebate you’re owed by mid-April or early June, depending on when you submit your tax return. These are the dates when fraudsters are likely to attempt the most scams.

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