The investigation into the case was closed.
The ex-athlete received blackmail messages by phone. Illustration picture. Adobe stock / AOP
A top Finnish athlete who ended his career reported to the police that he was a victim of online blackmail. According to the investigation report, the extortion took place a few years ago and for about a month and a half.
Based on the public materials of the police and the prosecutor, the ex-athlete had gotten to know a woman posing as an American on Tinder and had exchanged erotic pictures with her via Whatsapp.
Later, the ex-athlete received blackmail messages through both social media and foreign phone numbers, threatening to spread the images to his loved ones. The extortionist demanded $20,000 in virtual currency from the ex-athlete.
The ex-athlete filed a request for an investigation with the police. The investigation was started with the crime of attempted extortion.
According to the investigation report, the ex-athlete did not pay the extortionist anything. According to what he said, the pictures had not ended up being distributed.
Iltalehti caught up with the ex-athlete. He did not want to comment on the case.
“Cooperation and information exchange”
The investigation was terminated at the request of the police and by the decision of the prosecutor on the basis of costs.
– Online crime is often cross-border international crime, the targets of which can be individuals, among other things. The investigation of these crimes requires cooperation and exchange of information with service providers and other states’ authorities, he says Aku LimnellChief Inspector of the Cybercrime Prevention Center of the Central Criminal Police.
Limnell does not comment on the ex-athlete’s case, but talks about online extortion in general.
– In the case of an individual case, the head of the investigation considers what measures are available to investigate the crime and whether it is necessary to handle the matter with the help of international legal aid instruments.
“Means increasingly advanced”
According to Limnell, “for example, social media profiles may serve as a platform for data collection”.
– As social media visibility increases, the risks can also increase, he points out.
– The means are increasingly advanced and targeted, such as the use of target manipulation, where criminals try to research and gather information about potential or pre-targeted victims.
Limnell emphasizes that the target can be anyone, regardless of age and gender.
– According to information from the Central Criminal Police, cases of extortion using sensitive images and videos have been on the rise this year, Limnell says.
– Most of the extortion cases brought to the attention of the police have been carried out from abroad. Victims are often contacted in English, but the police are also aware of cases in Finnish.
Chief inspector Limnell instructs to be alert and careful when sharing pictures and videos.
– Criminals can use shared images and videos in different ways in their activities. The risk can be reduced, for example, by paying attention to privacy, that is, to the private settings and usage rules of different applications and platforms, such as age restrictions.