Kortlægning af bankbudsbedrageri i Danmark

Thomsen, Julie Malene ; Andersen, Freja Hvilsom

4. semester

Kriminologi, Kandidat

2025

2025-06-03

101 pages

This thesis investigates the organization of a specific and emerging type of fraud in Denmark, known as “bank courier fraud” (bankbudsbedrageri). The research is based on legal documents involving seven criminal networks operating across the country with more than 360 victims, as well as expert interviews conducted with police representatives and banking professionals. Adopting an exploratory mixed methods approach, this study provides insights into several key elements: offender characteristics, network mobility and lifespan, modus operandi (including scripts, withdrawal strategies, and activity patterns), manipulation techniques, victim profiling, and financial gains. The study identifies a profitdriven crime with significant economic losses associated with the fraud, totalling at least 5,6 mio. dkk. The findings reveal a high degree of professionalization, strategic planning, and the targeted exploitation of elderly women as victims. The fraud scheme is characterized by a clear hierarchical structure and division of roles. At the top are unknown orchestrators who maintain a central and controlling position. They recruit young men, typically with substance abuse issues and criminal records, to serve as couriers. These couriers are interchangeable and occupy the lowest level in the hierarchy, where they are exposed to a high risk of detection. In addition, the networks involve call agents and external actors, forming a multi-layered structure optimized for operational efficiency and financial gain. Our findings suggest that these networks operate with a high degree of professionalism and strategic planning. The perpetrators demonstrate efficiency and geographic mobility. The fraudsters are trained in persuasive techniques and know exactly how to act when interacting with victims. From a criminological perspective, the findings highlight potential strategies for situational crime prevention. This includes adapting institutional procedures, enhancing victim resilience through public awareness campaigns, and implementing physical and procedural barriers in cash withdrawal processes. Ultimately, the study expands the understanding of cyber-enabled, contact fraud and provides a foundation for developing more effective prevention strategies.

Cyberkriminalitet ; Kontaktbedrageri ; Cybercrime ; Organiseret kriminalitet ; Profit driven crime ; Mixed Methods ; Retsdokumenter ; Rutine aktivitet ; Rational Choice ; Bedrageri ; Databedrageri ; Svindel ; Profitdrevet kriminalitet ; Ekspertinterview ; Forebyggelse ; Banker ; Politi ; Situationel forebyggelse ; Spoofing ; Vishing ; Phishing ; Profilering ; Victim blaming ; Viktimologi ; Kriminologi ; Manipulation ; Social Engineering

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