STOCKHOLM (REUTERS) - Sweden's Fingerprint Cards said it would call in the police and financial watchdog after a fake press release saying Korean electronics giant Samsung would buy the biometrics firm sent its shares up 50 per cent.

The statement published by information provider Cision said Samsung would buy the firm for US$650 million (S$811 million) in cash.

"A false press release has gone out," Fingerprint Cards chief executive Johan Carlstrom said.

He said that the Swedish company, which produces fingerprint verification technology, had not had any discussions with the Korean firm.

"What has happened will be reported to the police and to the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority," Fingerprint said.

Sweden's main stock exchange operator said it would cancel trades in Fingerprint made after the announcement.

"All trades done in Fingerprint Cards from 10:17:00 CET until the event of the trading halt at 10:34:10 will be cancelled," Nasdaq OMX said in a statement.

Cision, the information provider which sent out the statement, apologized for releasing the information. It did not say how the error occurred.

Fingerprint recognition is a hot area after Apple introduced the technology in its latest iPhone saying it would protect devices from criminals and snoopers seeking access.

Just days later, however, a group of German hackers claimed to have cracked the iPhone fingerprint scanner.