Scam victim - Quick instructions
Have you just realised you have become a scam victim? On this page you will find clear instructions on where to start and how to act systematically. Every minute matters, so act now.
Immediate actions - act quickly!
- Stop the payment: Contact your bank or payment service (PayPal, Klarna, etc.) immediately and ask for the payment to be stopped/reversed.
- Save the evidence: Take screenshots of messages, advertisements, payment receipts, online shop details, etc.
- Block the bank card: If you have given out your card details, call the card blocking service (020 333) and block your card.
- File a police report: File a police report online at poliisi.fi.
- Report to the platform: Report the scam to the online platform where the scam happened (Tori, Facebook, Vinted, etc.)
Important contact details
Block the bank/credit card
General card blocking service, works 24/7
Police report online
Electronic police report about an online scam
National Cyber Security Centre
Information and instructions on information security incidents
Step-by-step instructions
Becoming the victim of an online scam is always an unpleasant experience, but the faster you act, the better your chances of getting your money back. Act systematically according to these instructions:
If you notice the scam quickly (within a few hours or days), contact your bank or payment service. In many cases the payment can still be stopped or reversed, especially if you used a credit card. If you have given out your card details to the scammer, block the card immediately by calling the card blocking service (020 333).
Take screenshots of everything related to the scam: advertisements, sales listings, messages, payment receipts, online shop details, the scammer's profile and contact details. Also save the emails and messages in which the scammer contacted you. This evidence is important for the police, the bank and the online platform alike.
File a police report online (poliisi.fi). Attach all the evidence you have collected and descriptions of the events. Filing a police report is important even if the amount is small, because it helps the police identify larger scam networks. You will receive a written confirmation of the police report that you can use in other contacts.
Report the scam to the online platform where the scam happened (Tori, Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, eBay, etc.). Most platforms have a separate form or button for reporting scams. Give as accurate details as possible, including the scammer's username or profile details. This helps the platform remove the scammer and warn other users.
If you paid by credit card, you may be entitled to a so-called "chargeback" procedure. This means the credit card company refunds the money to you if you did not receive the paid product or service. Contact your credit card company and ask about the process. Most credit card companies have a time limit (often 120 days) within which a chargeback must be requested.
If it is an online shop scam, contact consumer advice (09 5110 1200). They can help you assess whether your case involves a breach of the Consumer Protection Act and how you can act. If the online shop operates within the EU, you can also make a complaint through the European Consumer Centre.
If you suspect the scammer may have obtained your login details or if you have used the same password in several services, immediately change the passwords for all your important accounts (email, online bank, social media, online shops). Enable two-step verification if possible.
Instructions for specific scam types
Different scam types require slightly different measures. Here are more detailed instructions for the most common scam types:
Bank and card scams
- Block your card immediately (020 333)
- Contact your bank's on-call customer service
- Check your account transactions for suspicious charges
- Report scams carried out in the bank's name to the bank in question too
- Do not click links in emails or text messages that claim to be from your bank
- Ask for a new card with a new number
Online shop scams
- Contact the payment service (PayPal, Klarna, credit card) and dispute the payment
- Check the online shop's contact details and contact customer service
- Use the credit card's chargeback option
- Report the scam to the Consumer Authority (09 5110 1200)
- If the online shop is in the EU, make a complaint to the EU Consumer Centre
- Warn others by writing a review, for example on Trustpilot
Identity theft
- File a police report online at poliisi.fi
- Report the loss of an identity document to the police
- Contact Asiakastieto (asiakastieto.fi) to set up a credit ban
- Notify the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) about setting up a non-disclosure order
- Report misuse of a personal code or document to the National Cyber Security Centre
- Check your credit information for suspicious entries
- Change the passwords for all your accounts and enable two-step verification
- Monitor account transactions and credit card charges regularly
- Set up electronic delivery for account statements and invoices, so they are not stolen from your mailbox
Tori.fi, Facebook Marketplace and peer-to-peer trading
- Report the scam to the platform in question to close the scammer's profile
- If you used the platform's payment system, open a dispute process
- If you paid the seller directly, contact the bank/payment method
- Collect all messages and information about the seller as evidence
- File a police report online at poliisi.fi
- Warn other users about the scammer's profile
Instructions for identity theft victims
Identity theft is a serious crime in which someone uses your personal details without authorisation. According to the National Cyber Security Centre's instructions, you should act as follows:
Report the identity theft to the police. File a police report online at poliisi.fi. Save the police report number for further action.
Contact Suomen Asiakastieto Oy at asiakastieto.fi and set up a voluntary credit ban for yourself. This prevents new credit from being applied for in your name. The credit ban is a paid service (about 15-20 euros), but it is an important precaution.
If it is a serious threat, you can apply for a non-disclosure order at dvv.fi/turvakielto. A non-disclosure order prevents your address details from being disclosed from the Population Information System to anyone other than authorities. A non-disclosure order can be valid for 2-5 years.
Report a data leak or identity theft to the National Cyber Security Centre at cert.fi. They analyse the situation and can give further advice based on your case.
Change the passwords for all your most important online services and email accounts. Start with the most important services such as online banking, email and social media. Use strong, different passwords for each service and enable two-step verification everywhere possible.
Ask for a credit information report from Asiakastieto and check whether credit has been applied for in your name. Check the account transactions on your bank account and credit card carefully for suspicious transactions. Monitor the account transactions regularly over the following months.
If your identity document (passport, identity card, driving licence) has been stolen or lost:
- Report the loss to the police
- Passport or identity card: Invalidate these immediately in the police's electronic service or at a police station
- Driving licence: Apply for a new driving licence in Traficom's service or at an Ajovarma office
- Kela card: Order a new card in Kela's online service or at an office
Frequently asked questions
It depends on several factors, such as the payment method you used and how quickly you notice the scam and take action:
- Credit card payment: The best chances of getting the money back, because you can request a chargeback procedure
- Debit card or bank transfer: More difficult, but if you react quickly the bank can sometimes stop the transfer
- PayPal, Klarna or another payment service: Most have a system that protects the buyer, which you can use to dispute the payment
- Cash or cryptocurrencies: Very difficult or impossible to recover
Always act as quickly as possible after noticing the scam and contact the provider of the payment method.
Yes, it is always worth filing a police report, regardless of the size of the amount. There are several reasons for this:
- The police can identify recurring scams and scammers only if all cases are reported
- The written confirmation of the police report can help you when dealing with the bank or payment service
- In many cases the same scammer scams several people out of small sums, whereby the total amount grows large
- You can easily file a police report online at poliisi.fi, so it does not require much effort
If the scammer threatens you after you have filed a police report:
- Do not respond to threats or messages from the scammer
- Save all threatening messages as evidence
- Report the threats to the police and add them to the original police report
- If you feel unsafe, contact the local police station
Scammers usually threaten only to get you to withdraw the police report or pay more money. In reality they rarely carry out their threats, because they do not want to expose themselves.
The time it takes to get your money back varies from case to case:
- Credit card chargeback: Typically 7-90 days depending on the complexity of the case
- PayPal or other payment services: Usually 10-30 days to process the dispute
- Reversal of a bank transfer: If the payment can be stopped, the money can be returned within a few days
- Cases proceeding through the police: Can take months or even years if the matter proceeds to consideration of charges and court
The process is usually faster if you act immediately after noticing the scam and if the payment method you used has strong consumer protection (such as a credit card or PayPal).
Yes, the scammer can use your personal details in many ways:
- For identity theft and for applying for credit in your name
- For breaking into your other accounts if you use the same passwords
- For targeted scam attempts that exploit information collected about you
- For selling your details to other scammers
To protect yourself:
- Change the passwords for all your important accounts
- Set up a credit ban with Asiakastieto
- Monitor the transactions on your accounts regularly
- Enable two-step verification whenever possible
- Consider applying for a non-disclosure order from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency if you suspect a more serious identity theft
Signs of identity theft are:
- Purchases or withdrawals that you have not made appear in your account transactions
- You receive notifications about loan applications that you have not made
- You receive post or invoices for products that you have not ordered
- You receive calls or messages about a debt that you have not taken on
- You notice that agreements have been made or services ordered in your name
- Your social media accounts are used without your permission
- You receive a notification of a data breach from a service you use
- Post belonging to you goes missing or your mailbox has been rifled through
If you notice these signs, act immediately according to the National Cyber Security Centre's instructions. The faster you react, the better you can limit the damage.
Support and help for scam victims
Becoming the victim of an online scam can be a mentally heavy experience. It is important to remember that being scammed is not a shame - scammers are professionals and anyone can become a scam victim.
If you feel you need someone to talk to or support after a scam, you can turn to the following bodies:
- Victim Support Finland (RIKU) - Offers practical advice and emotional support to crime victims. Phone: 116 006
- Consumer advice - Helps with questions relating to consumer rights. Phone: 09 5110 1200
- The Church's helpline (Kirkon keskusteluapu) - Someone to talk to in difficult life situations. Phone: 0400 221 180
- MIELI Mental Health Finland crisis line - Someone to talk to in a crisis, on call in Finnish 24/7. Phone: 09 2525 0111
Share your experience with others too. When you tell your friends and family about the scam, you help them avoid the same scam. Online scams are common, and talking about them reduces shame and helps others recognise scam attempts.
How to avoid scams in the future
After a scam, it is good to think about how you can protect yourself better in the future. Here are a few important tips:
Before buying, check the online shop's background: read reviews, look for the company's official details, check the contact details and return terms. A suspiciously low price is often a sign of a scam.
Preferably use a credit card or safe payment services such as PayPal. Avoid direct bank transfers, cash, gift cards or cryptocurrencies to unknown sellers.
Use different passwords in different services, enable two-step verification, update your devices' software and use reliable antivirus protection.
Do not share your personal identity code, your card details or other sensitive information by email or phone. Banks and authorities never ask for this information by text message or email.
Scammers often use urgency and pressure: "The offer ends in an hour", "This is your last chance". If you are pressured into a quick decision, be especially careful.