A man from Iisalmi reported to the police that he was the victim of a fraud scheme involving a female scammer he met online, leading him to send her €24,000 in gift cards over three years.
In January 2026, the police in Eastern Finland received reports of several serious fraud cases, one of which involved a man from Iisalmi who had been communicating online with a woman using the alias Ovi Lindsey for three years through platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. During this time, he sent her at least 256 gift cards totaling approximately €24,000, believing their relationship to be genuine.
The situation escalated when the woman demanded an additional €300 from him, threatening that she would be killed if he did not comply. This startling revelation prompted the man to go to the police, concerned about his safety and realizing he had been defrauded. Authorities are now investigating the case as a serious fraud, highlighting the increasing prevalence of online scams that exploit emotional connections.
On the same day, another report was made to police regarding a woman in her 40s from Varkaus who received a message on Facebook Messenger from someone she knew, requesting her phone number. Following the request, she received a text containing a game with questions, further illustrating the deceptive tactics used in online fraud schemes. These cases underline the critical need for public awareness about the risks associated with online interactions and the importance of verifying identities before engaging financially with individuals met online.
