Today’s big topic: Chinese criminals on a sophisticated fraud spree in Denmark
What’s happening?
A wave of fake text messages sent to Danes this spring appears to have been part of a sophisticated fraud operation linked to China. Disguised as messages from companies such as PostNord, GLS and parking operators, the texts directed recipients to fake websites where they were asked to pay small fees. But when victims entered their credit card details, scammers used the information to gain control of their cards digitally. Accomplices in Denmark could then use the stolen cards to make contactless payments in stores without knowing the PIN.
Court documents reveal how the operation played out across the country. In April, a Chinese man used stolen card details from 28 people to buy goods worth around DKK 72,000 in Copenhagen-area stores. In June, two Chinese nationals allegedly bought gift cards worth DKK 90,000 over three days in eastern Jutland. Others were arrested in Odense and Haderslev after using stolen card details to buy gift cards. One man told a court that people in China had threatened him into carrying out the purchases. Police suspect that several of those arrested were working for ringleaders abroad, while the National Special Crime Unit says the cases point to professional or organized criminals.
Why it matters!
The scale of the fraud highlights how convincing fake messages and increasingly sophisticated digital payment methods can make it difficult for consumers to protect themselves. More than 100,000 fraudulent text messages were circulated, and the campaign has led to more than 900 reports of fraud totaling at least DKK 8 million, according to information obtained by Politiken and Jyllands-Posten. Nets, which operates Denmark’s Dankort payment system, says it has not previously seen a case in Denmark that matches the method uncovered in this investigation.
The case also raises questions about how effectively Denmark can protect consumers against digital crime. Investigators believe the operation’s organizers studied the country’s payment systems and security measures, while the National Special Crime Unit says an SMS spam filter may have played a major role in reducing fraud reports before it was declared illegal in spring 2026. Meanwhile, Salling Group, which owns Føtex, says it has introduced limits on gift-card purchases after seeing examples of fraud. The investigation shows how a seemingly harmless text message can be the first step in a cross-border criminal operation – and how difficult it can be to stop once stolen information begins circulating.
This weekends itinerary
Both the food and the pub’s interior stick to mostly brown tones - exactly as they should.
Copenhagen’s first and only British pub – or at least that’s what they call it themselves – already looks like a winner, Politikens food critic David Dyrlund writes about the newly opened The Jeffery Pub in Nørrebro that wants to be something other than just another Danish dive or another shamrock-green, Irish-ish boozer.
What to eat?
The fries were one of the favorites: wide sticks, properly crisp, salted all the way to the edge so it almost burned your lips. Much better was my steak and ale pie (175 DKK), where tender chunks of beef and vegetables sat in a deeply flavored thickened gravy beneath a lid of puff pastry flecked with fennel seeds. Solid craftsmanship and a satisfying dinner. Could I have dreamed of a green salad on the side? Yes, I sure could, but at that point we’d probably be straying too far from the pub, so fair enough.
What to drink?
A freshly elderflower cordial a frothy, swamp-colored Guinness. Or simply The Jeffery’s own beer – a surprisingly bright, malty, red-gold ale – made the trip from meat pie to our closing sticky toffee pudding without any trouble.
Still curious? Read the full article here.
This newsletter features stories originally published in Danish. AI was used to shorten and translate the articles into English, after which a member of the editorial staff reviewed and refined the content.