Thirteen suspects linked to phone scam targeting elderly citizens in Finland

Thirteen individuals are suspected of involvement in a widespread phone scam that has defrauded elderly citizens out of hundreds of thousands of euros. The National Bureau of Investigation in Finland has been probing the case since the summer of 2023, where victims were contacted and pressured to transfer money to the suspects’ accounts under false pretenses, including claims that they had fallen victim to a phishing attack.

The fraudulent calls originated from Spain but appeared to come from Finnish phone numbers and were primarily conducted in Finnish. The scammers primarily targeted elderly individuals, resulting in approximately 70 identified victims who have collectively lost over 320,000 euros. Additionally, banks and authorities have successfully intercepted nearly 385,000 euros that would have been transferred to the suspects, managing to recover a portion of the lost funds.

The majority of the suspects are Finnish nationals, although the police have indicated that several foreign nationals are also involved. They are under suspicion for serious crimes such as aggravated fraud, money laundering, and attempts at fraud. Investigations have revealed potential connections to similar cases in other countries.

Responding to a request from Finland, Spanish law enforcement officials detained some of the suspects along the Costa del Sol in the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024. According to police, around ten individuals have been held in custody during the preliminary investigation. Authorities believe that the activities of the suspects appear to be systematic and organized. The preliminary investigation has now concluded, and the case has been submitted for prosecution.