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🇮🇸 Iceland /Crime & Justice

Foreign National Suspected of Defrauding Elderly in Iceland

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Icelandic police are searching for a foreign man who allegedly defrauded elderly residents in Reykjavik.
  • The suspect approached older individuals, soliciting donations for a charity using a mobile card reader.
  • Victims were tricked into believing they were donating small amounts, but thousands of euros were withdrawn from their accounts.

Reykjavik police are seeking a foreign national suspected of defrauding elderly residents in the Árbær district. The man reportedly approached older individuals, asking for donations of 2,000 Icelandic kronur for a charity. However, he used a mobile card reader, disguised as a point-of-sale device, to process transactions.

The man did not want banknotes, only payment cards and PIN numbers and used his phone as a POS.

— Police statementDescribing the suspect's method of operation during the alleged fraud.

Victims later discovered that instead of the small kronur donation, significant amounts of money, approximately 2,000 euros (around 289,000 kronur), had been withdrawn from their bank accounts. The suspect reportedly preferred card payments over cash and used his phone as the payment terminal.

The people agreed to support the cause, but it turned out that two thousand euros were withdrawn from the cards of the individuals concerned, not 2,000 Icelandic kronur!

— Police statementExplaining the significant financial loss incurred by the victims.

Authorities are warning the public to be vigilant. The suspect is described as wearing dark clothing and white sneakers, and he spoke English. Police have few other details about him at this time, but the method of deception has raised concerns about targeted fraud against vulnerable elderly individuals.

The police are warning about the man and urge people to be on guard.

— Police statementIssuing a public alert and advising caution.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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