Olympic Gold Athlete Supporting Disabled Sister Conned

Story By: Elena Kalioglo, Sub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyGolder’s News And Sport

Olympic gold medal winning figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova who is struggling to support her disabled sister has been conned out of 25,000 GBP by a fortuneteller she met on Instagram.

The 23-year-old Russian, who won a figure skating gold in the ladies’ singles at the 2014 Olympic Games, entered the sport to raise money to support her younger sister Maria, who suffers from Treacher Collins syndrome, a genetic disease that often leaves the face deformed and often suffering from breathing and hearing problems.

Picture Credit: Golders/@adelina_sotnikova14

It is unclear what personal problems she had that prompted her to turn to the fortuneteller, but she reportedly had nine sessions with the online person who identified themselves as “Olga” and to whom she transferred a total of 2 million RUB (25,000 GBP), with the promise that she would solve all of the young woman’s personal problems.

The fraud was confirmed in a press statement sent to Golder’s News & Sport by the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Picture Credit: Golders/@adelina_sotnikova14

They confirmed: “Adeline Sotnikova contacted police and said that she had found an announcement on the provision of mystical help through the social network Instagram, and decided to use it.”

The statement said that she had contacted the person identified as “Olga” to discuss her personal problems, and continued: “The woman who introduced herself as Olga and she replied to the message promising to solve all of the girl’s problems but insisted that the service be provided remotely.”

They confirmed that the nine sessions had cost the young woman, whose father is a police officer, some 2 million RUB.

When the promised miracle that would change her life did not happen, the fortuneteller disappeared, and the young woman turned to the police who are now looking for the fraudster.

The press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia confirmed they were carrying out an investigation on charges of “Fraud on an especially large scale” (part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

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