Identify scam messages
Scam messages may look real, but they are intended to trick you into providing personal information, such as banking credentials or credit card information.
What is a scam message?
Scam messages are emails or text messages sent in Mehiläinen’s name with the aim of phishing for personal information, such as banking credentials or credit card information. The messages may appear so convincing that they are not necessarily easy to recognise as scams. Scam text messages may appear in a message thread on your phone along with genuine messages.
The scam messages claim that the user has, for example, unpaid invoices and urge them to click on a link that redirects them to a scam website that resembles the real Mehiläinen website. The website then asks the user to log in with their banking credentials.
The displayed sender ID of a scam message may be, for example:
- MEHI
- MEHl (the letter i replaced by the lowercase letter L)
- MEHlAlNEN
- mehiIainen (the letter L replaced by the capital letter i)
- MEHlLAlNEN
- MEHLAlNEN
How do scam messages work?
Scam messages may contain links to fake websites. These websites resemble genuine Mehiläinen login pages and are used by criminals to try to get the user to enter their banking credentials or other personal information
The messages may also ask you to call a fake Mehiläinen service number. See Mehiläinen’s service numbers here.
Scam messages may use an urgent tone in order for the recipient to act quickly without further consideration. The message may threaten the recipient with consequences if they do not act immediately, or promise a reward if they act quickly.
If you receive a suspicious message, delete it
If you receive a scam SMS, delete it immediately without opening the link. The content of the message is fake, and its sole purpose is to phish for banking credentials.
- Do not provide any personal information.
- Do not log in to any service to which the link in the message redirects you.
- Do not pay anything unless you are sure that the message is genuine.
- If you receive a phishing message, you can report it to Mehiläinen at abuse@mehilainen.fi – it is a good idea to take a screenshot of the message and attach it to the email. This will make the investigation process more efficient.
What to do if you get scammed
If you accidentally opened a link in a message and provided personal information to a website, you should act as quickly as possible.
If you provided personal information, such as your banking credentials or credit card details
Contact your bank’s customer service or blocking service. It is often possible to deactivate a credit card quickly via your online bank. Follow the instructions provided by your bank.
If you provided your login details (e.g. email or other services)
Change your password as soon as possible. If you use the same password for other services, change the passwords for them as well.
Report a crime
The police instruct the public to report all scams and scam attempts online. Read more on the Police of Finland’s website.External link
Also report the scam message to Mehiläinen at abuse@mehilainen.fi – it is a good idea to take a screenshot of the message and attach it to the email. This will make the investigation process more efficient.
Scams that have come to our attention:
