"Recruitment takes place through social media," writes the police on their website.
On their website, the police state that they want to 'encourage vigilance regarding potential investment fraud':
– Over the past weekend, the police in Umeå have learned that young people are being asked to participate in what is called 'network marketing.' This could involve investing with the aim of quick returns. Recruitment takes place through social media, says the police.
'Network marketing' is sometimes called 'nätverksförsäljning' in Swedish.This involves hiring people and giving them the responsibility of selling the products of the company, while at the same time having the opportunity to recruit and train new salespeople.
The police fear that what young people are being asked to join may involve pyramid schemes or other types of investment fraud.
Ulrica Heldebro is the acting group leader of the Västerbotten police fraud unit. She says it is not impossible that young people in Skellefteå have also been approached to join network marketing scams.
– I'm not aware of this in Skellefteå yet, but such things spread quickly. It may have already reached Skellefteå," says Heldebro.
She now urges young people and parents to be careful and cautious about where they invest their money.
– If an offer seems too good to be true, it often is.