Norwegian football legend Solveig Gulbrandsen lost a large sum of money in a phone scam after fraudsters convinced her that her identity had been stolen, according to Dagbladet.
The 45-year-old former midfielder, who earned 183 caps for the Norway women’s national team, received a call from individuals claiming someone was taking out a bank loan in her name. The perpetrators spent half a day building trust through multiple contacts before she transferred funds to an account within her own bank. “They said I had been the victim of identity theft and someone was taking out a bank loan in my name,” Gulbrandsen told Dagbladet.
Gulbrandsen realized she was scammed immediately after completing the transfer when the communication was severed. While her bank helped her recover most of the funds, leaving her to pay only a deductible, the psychological toll remained severe.
“For me, the money was a thing. The worst was the uncertainty and the shame,” Gulbrandsen told Dagbladet. “How could I be so fucking stupid? When I recount the whole incident now, it sounds completely idiotic.”
Authorities have outlined specific protective measures to help citizens avoid similar financial fraud.
* Hang up immediately if an unknown caller claims to be a relative or a bank representative.
* Never log in with BankID or provide codes from a bank token or payment card over the phone.
* Do not trust callers even if they possess personal information about you.
* Never let unfamiliar individuals into your home, as police never visit residences to collect bank cards or valuables.
* Never hand over identification, bank cards, or personal codes to anyone.
Emergency services handle ongoing crimes at 112, while non-urgent reports go to 114 14, according to police guidelines. Gulbrandsen encourages the public to discuss these methods openly with family and friends to counter professional scammers.
“De här människorna är professionella och deras jobb är att lura dig,” Gulbrandsen told Dagbladet.
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