Summary
The criminal economy turns over up to SEK 150 billion per year, according to the Swedish Police Authority, and 80% of all criminal networks within the EU use companies as tools to commit crimes. Risky companies come in many forms, but this may involve history companies, where companies without real operations but with continued F-tax, VAT, and creditworthiness allow criminal actors to buy into established structures. On the surface, these companies look green – but they are used as tools for extensive economic crime.
When criminals take over a company or a history company, several company details are often changed within a short period of time.
Roaring has reviewed Swedish limited companies during 2024 and analyzed changes in boards, SNI codes, and address changes. Companies that have changed all three (3) risk indicators at least one (1) time within 30 days are flagged as potentially risky.
A total of 1,049 companies have been flagged, and a comparison has been made with all limited companies in Sweden.
An index shows whether a county or industry has a higher or lower share of risky companies compared with its share of all limited companies in Sweden.
The results indicate geographic and industry-specific patterns and provide guidance on when further and more thorough analysis is necessary.
Worst in class:
Västmanland has the greatest overrepresentation of risky companies. With an index of 133, Västmanland has the highest share in relation to its total share of limited companies.
Accommodation and food service activities: With an index of 201, accommodation and food service activities have one of the highest overrepresentations of potentially risky companies across different industries and are thus among the worst in class.
High risk of risky and unscrupulous companies in Stockholm County: 39.6% of the potentially risky and unscrupulous companies are found in Stockholm County. The county also has an overrepresentation of these companies with an index of 117.
Best in class:
Värmland has the lowest share of risky companies: With an index of 51, Värmland has the lowest share in relation to its total number of limited companies.
Health and social care: Although health and social care is a risk industry, it has a low share of potentially risky companies (index 35), making this industry the least exposed to unscrupulous actors among the examined risk industries.
High risk:
Risky and unscrupulous companies in metropolitan regions: Stockholm (39.6%), Västra Götaland (13.6%), and Skåne (12.3%) together account for the majority of the potentially risky and unscrupulous companies.
Highest risk in Västmanland, Örebro, and Gävleborg: Indexes of 133, 126, and 123 show that these counties have an overrepresentation of potentially risky and unscrupulous companies.
Counties with an overrepresentation of risky companies: Counties with an index above 100, Västmanland (133), Örebro (126), Gävleborg (123), Stockholm (117), Östergötland (113), Kalmar (107), and Norrbotten (102), have a higher share of potentially risky companies in relation to their total number of limited companies.
High risk in risk industries: Construction (126), Transportation and storage (167), and Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (142): Three classic risk industries, and although they do not have indexes as high as accommodation and food service activities, all three still have an overrepresentation of potentially risky companies, making the industries vulnerable to unscrupulous actors.
High risk of unscrupulous actors in a sample of 100 companies from the 1,049 examined companies: In a deeper analysis of a sample from the selection of 1,049 companies, more than 50% (53 of 100) of the companies were identified as constituting a high risk of being unscrupulous or criminal actors. These companies have historical bankruptcies or legal occurrences behind them, including crimes such as narcotics offences, aggravated fraud, and weapons offences.
Lower risk:
Deviates from the metropolitan regions: With an index of 83, Västra Götaland has a lower share of potentially risky companies in relation to the number of limited companies in the county.
Lowest risk of risky and unscrupulous companies in Värmland, Halland, and Jämtland: Counties with indexes of 51, 65, and 66, which means an underrepresentation of risky companies.
Lower risk in northern Sweden: Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Jämtland, and Västernorrland together account for only 7% of the potentially risky and unscrupulous companies.
The report can be downloaded here.
About Roaring:
Since 2016, Roaring has helped organizations reduce business risks and counter economic crime by providing reliable company and personal data. The company offers integrations and ready-made applications that enable more efficient and automated verification and monitoring of information. The focus is on eliminating manual, slow, and complicated processes, which frees up time, ensures regulatory compliance, counteracts welfare crime, and reduces credit losses.
Roaring is one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Europe according to Deloitte.
