Denmark Scams: Online, Banking & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in Denmark and how to report them to the Danish Police, your bank, and the National Special Crime Unit.
Emergency number: 112 (emergency), 114 (police non-emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Denmark faces online fraud including phishing impersonating Danish banks and MitID (the national digital identity system), investment scams, marketplace fraud, and smishing. Because MitID unlocks banking, tax, and government services alike, most serious Danish fraud is engineered to end with the victim approving a MitID request they were talked into — and the golden rule is never to approve one you did not initiate yourself.
The typical vishing run starts with an SMS about a suspicious transaction or a 'new device' on your account, followed by a call from the 'bank's security team' or 'the police fraud unit', often with a genuine-looking number spoofed. The caller creates urgency, walks the victim through MitID approvals framed as 'identity verification' or 'stopping the transfer', and each approval actually signs away money. Variants ask victims to move savings to a 'safe account', hand cards to a courier, or read out card details for 'blocking'. Danske Bank, Nordea, and other institutions repeat the same warning: no bank or authority will ever call and ask you to use MitID, transfer funds, or surrender cards.
Beyond vishing, expect parcel smishing impersonating PostNord and GLS, fake webshops that peak around Black Friday and Christmas, marketplace fraud on DBA and Facebook with fake MobilePay 'payment confirmations', rental scams collecting deposits for Copenhagen apartments that don't exist, and investment fraud through cloned brokers and crypto ads with fabricated endorsements of Danish business figures. Check Finanstilsynet's warnings before investing. When money has moved, call your bank immediately, then file with the police at politi.dk — and report identity misuse so MitID can be reissued if your credentials were compromised.
Common scams
- MitID/NemID social engineering — tricking victims into approving fraudulent authentications
- Phishing and smishing impersonating Danish banks or Post Danmark
- Investment and crypto fraud
- Online marketplace (DBA) non-delivery and overpayment scams
Tourist-specific scams
- Overcharging or unlicensed taxis
- Ticket resale scams for events
- Fake short-term rental listings for Copenhagen apartments
Online shopping scams
- Fake online shops and rental listings
- Parcel-fee smishing impersonating PostNord or GLS
- Account takeover via MitID phishing
- Fake MobilePay 'payment confirmations' on DBA and Facebook Marketplace
Job scams
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Fake job offers requiring upfront fees or document payments
- Money-mule recruitment of young people via social media
Romance scams
- Dating-app romance and cryptocurrency investment grooming
- Family-impersonation messages from a 'new number'
- Long-distance partners with escalating emergencies
Investment scams
- Fake trading platforms and clone broker firms
- Crypto and 'AI bot' investment schemes
- Ads with fabricated endorsements of Danish business figures
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately if money was transferred
- Report cybercrime to the Danish Police at politi.dk
- For serious fraud or economic crime, contact the National Special Crime Unit (NSK)
- Cancel any unexpected or suspicious MitID session immediately and call your bank
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Cancel any MitID request you did not initiate, then call your bank on the number printed on your card rather than any number you were given. Danish banks can attempt to recall fraudulent transfers most effectively within the first few minutes, so call before collecting evidence. Tell them you were deceived into approving the payment, describe exactly what you were told each MitID approval was for — that framing matters when the bank assesses manipulation versus negligence — and ask for the receiving account to be reported and a reference number. If your MitID credentials themselves were phished, have the bank flag it and get MitID reissued so the fraudsters cannot come back later. File a police report at politi.dk so the bank case has a journal number, block and reissue cards whose details were read out or entered anywhere, and change online banking access from a clean device. Ask the bank about temporary transfer limits while the dust settles.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is the MitID scam in Denmark?
Scammers call impersonating your bank or another authority, claiming your account is at risk, and ask you to confirm by opening MitID. They use your approval to authenticate a fraudulent transaction. Always cancel any unexpected MitID request and call your bank on a number you know is genuine.
How do I report cybercrime in Denmark?
File a report with the Danish Police online at politi.dk, specifically in the section for crimes against digital devices. For complex economic crime and cybercrime, the National Special Crime Unit (NSK) can be contacted at [email protected].
Does the Danish tax authority (Skat) contact people by SMS?
Skat may send some SMS notifications, but it will never send a link asking for banking credentials or immediate payments. Treat any such message as a phishing attempt and report it to the police.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance