Former call center employees expose aggressive sales tactics targeting elderly individuals in Barcelona

Former employees of a call center in Barcelona have reported that they were directed to adopt aggressive sales tactics, specifically targeting elderly and confused individuals. They revealed that lottery tickets were sold to people who likely did not fully understand the purchase terms. This revelation has prompted significant political backlash and intense internal criticism within the Social Democratic Party (S).

The CEO of Kombispel has been dismissed, and several board members have resigned following the party’s call for accountability. The Social Democrats have announced they will cease using telemarketing companies for lottery sales. In light of the issues, partners like Fortum and Eon have suspended contracts with Effective Communication, the telemarketing firm in question.

Reports from various media outlets have indicated potential ties between gang criminals and companies involved in the sale of Social Democratic lottery tickets. The lotteries have long been a contentious political issue, raising ethical concerns even as they generated hundreds of millions in revenue for the party. While the ruling government and the Sweden Democrats have aimed to halt such lottery sales, a recent investigation proposed stricter regulations without an outright ban.

Following the latest revelations, Financial Markets Minister Niklas Wykman has suggested the possibility of prohibiting political lotteries altogether. This ongoing scandal poses a significant challenge for the Social Democrats as they navigate the political fallout and internal reform.