Sweden Combats Fraud while Loan Policy Shift Threatens Debt Surge

Sweden is introducing new fraud prevention tools through the Swish payment service as experts warn that a parliamentary decision to phase out interest deductions on unsecured loans could trigger a 30 percent surge in debt enforcement cases.Although debt collection claims fell by 12 percent in 2025 due to reduced consumer spending, the removal of tax benefits is expected to strain household finances and increase the number of borrowers facing Kronofogden.Meanwhile, the Swedish Tax Agency prepares to open the 2026 tax declaration season on March 17, with authorities cautioning that tax refunds will be automatically seized to cover outstanding debts.