Woman under investigation for online scams in Helsinki

A woman has come under investigation by the Helsinki police for allegedly committing a series of online scams. The suspect reportedly sold nonexistent items on Facebook, claiming to offer Finnish jewelry, home textiles, branded clothing, bags, shoes, equestrian gear, camping supplies, and valuable decorative items.

According to police, she is suspected of carrying out 103 fraudulent transactions during the spring and summer of this year, with total financial gains exceeding €10,000. Some of the money was allegedly transferred to the bank accounts of two other individuals, raising suspicions of money laundering as well.

This suspect has a history of online fraud, as earlier this year, investigators completed a case involving similar allegations against her, which resulted in approximately €16,000 in illicit gains.

The current series of frauds came to light after a victim filed a police report. The complainant had purchased a duvet cover for €100 from a Facebook marketplace group, transferring the payment to the seller’s provided bank account. However, the buyer never received the item or a refund.

Following this initial report, several other victims stepped forward with complaints about failed online purchases on Facebook, all linked by the identical bank accounts used for transactions, according to investigating officer Teppo Viljanen. He suggests that, whenever possible, buyers should arrange in-person exchanges and payments. To prevent falling victim to fraud, he also recommends researching sellers through search engines before making purchases, as there may be warnings regarding known scammers.

The suspect has admitted to the fraud allegations.