We can't just lay back, you have to push, push, push until the customer buys or clicks.
This is what a former employee at the telemarketing company Effective Communication says, which has been selling lottery tickets for Kombispel, the Social Democratic Party's lottery company, since 2022.
It was 98 percent elderly people they sold to. It was seen as easier since they're not part of the "game", says the person to DN.
The only exception to break off the conversation was if the customer said they were demented or had a guardian, according to the former employee.
Reported 28 times
DN has been in contact with several former sellers who claim that they sold lottery tickets to people who likely didn't understand the terms of purchase, such as that lottery subscriptions need to be cancelled. The employees describe the sales methods as "harassment".
Since May 2022, Kombispel has been reported 28 times to the Consumer Agency, and 18 of these cases concern telephone sales. Several cases involve people with dementia who claim they didn't understand what they bought.
"Now they've called her again and sold her a lottery ticket", states a complaint from a relative.
The Gaming Inspectorate is responsible for ensuring that lotteries and other gaming activities are conducted legally, safely, and reliably. According to My Hamrén, press officer at the authority, the case remains a matter for the Consumer Agency for now.
If they find that they have failed, we have our tools regarding sanctions and warnings. But investigation-wise, it's them who are the experts and have the responsibility.
Pauses lottery sales
The Social Democratic Party's group leader Lena Hallengren announced on Thursday that the telemarketing company's lottery sales will be paused. How long the stop will last is still unclear.
We need to get to the bottom of these methods that the telemarketing company is using and see if the allegations are true, she says to TT.
Jonas Lindholm, CEO of A-lotterierna and Kombispel, writes to DN that he is shocked by the allegations: "We will of course get to the bottom of this".
In 2023, the lottery business gave 9.8 million kronor to the Social Democratic Party's party funds and 6.3 million to SSU.
