Published: 24/06/25 | 00:56
Finland, despite its reputation for digital safety and strong cyber infrastructure is increasingly facing challenges in the form of online scams and cybercrime. What began with common incidents like online flea market frauds has now escalated into more complex and disturbing schemes, for example as mentioned in the earlier news article where a woman from Jyväskylä spent a decade scamming people through online marketplaces by pretending to sell toys, children’s clothing and other goods that never existed. Despite being convicted over a hundred times and previously sentenced to probation she continued her crimes until she was finally sentenced to over a year in prison. This case illustrated how common it has become for individuals to exploit the internet’s anonymity for personal gain knowing that many victims will not report minor losses, which when repeated develop into serious crimes.
However, the rise in cybercrime doesn’t stop at financial scams. A much more alarming trend has recently emerged in the form of fraudulent emails that accuse innocent people of serious crimes. An example, which has been making rounds in Finland involves an email claiming to be from the police stating that the recipient is under investigation for crimes such as child pornography, pedophilia and sexual harassment. The email is written in Finnish and threatens arrest and inclusion in a national sex offender registry unless the person replies within 48 hours.While the tone and content of the email are clearly intended to spark panic and fear, the message itself is entirely false. What makes it even more disturbing is the nature of the accusations in its deeply inappropriate and morally shocking way to use such serious claims as a weapon against innocent people. These kinds of hoaxes don’t just threaten someone’s reputation but they can cause real emotional and psychological damage. Being wrongly accused of something so severe can leave lasting scars leading to trauma, social isolation and even issues at work or within families. It’s hard to imagine the distress this could cause and yet the scammer hidden safely behind a screen faces no real consequences. It’s a stark reminder of how dangerous digital anonymity can be when used to exploit and harm others.
Several indicators make it clear that this email is fraudulent. The most glaring red flag is the sender’s reply address which ends in “@yahoo.com.” If this were a real investigation by Finnish authorities the communication would come through an official domain such as “@poliisi.fi” or via the secure Suomi.fi platform. Moreover, the message fails to address the recipient by name and opting instead for the generic “Hyvä herra/rouva” (“Dear Sir/Madam”) which would never be used in formal and case-specific communication. If a person were truly under investigation for such serious crimes the communication would be personalized, legally documented and delivered through secure official channels. Moreover, the sender’s original email includes multiple questionable domains some of which link to French educational institutions like “sorbonne-nouvelle.fr,” raising the question of why a supposedly Finnish criminal investigation would be handled through a foreign academic server. This inconsistency in sender information further exposes the scam. The PDF file attached to the email which supposedly contains evidence is another common tactic used to deliver malware or spyware to the victim’s computer which puts their personal data and devices at risk.
Falsely accusing someone of sexual offenses even in a fraudulent context is a crime in itself. It involves not only impersonation of law enforcement but also criminal defamation and psychological abuse. These scam emails are carefully crafted to create fear and confusion pushing the victim into reacting on impulse whether by replying, clicking on a dangerous attachment or handing over personal information. For someone on the receiving end the emotional toll can be overwhelming. The panic, the shame, the fear of being judged even when they’ve done absolutely nothing wrong can stop people from speaking up or asking for help.
What’s alarming is how these scams reveal the evolving nature of cybercrime in Finland. It’s no longer just about stealing money but it’s become more personal and more psychological. These crimes now aim to break people down emotionally, damage their reputations and invade their private lives. That’s why we can’t afford to take them lightly. Everyone including individuals, families and institutions has a role to play in confronting this threat.
Learning how to spot these scams, understanding the tricks they use and reporting them when they appear are small but powerful ways we can fight back. Whether it’s someone trying to sell fake goods online or sending out cruel hoax emails pretending to be the police, these crimes are real and their impact can be life-changing. By raising awareness, encouraging open conversation and improving digital skills we give ourselves and each other a better chance of staying safe in a world where online deception is becoming harder to spot but more important than ever to stop.
