Sweden's move to ditch cash has created a surge in fraud

Sweden is an important test case in terms of cashless crime as it’s gone further on switching to digital payments than almost any other European country
Sweden's move to ditch cash has created a surge in fraud

Just 8% of Swedish adults use cash, with cashless shops increasingly common across the country. Picture: Erika Gerdemark/Bloomberg

Ellen Bagley was delighted when she made her first sale on a popular second-hand clothing app, but just a few minutes later, the thrill turned to shock as the 20-year-old from Linköping in Sweden discovered she’d been robbed.

Everything seemed normal when Ms Bagley received a message on the platform asking her to verify personal details to complete the deal. She clicked the link, which fired up BankID — the ubiquitous digital authorization system used by nearly all Swedish adults.

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