Emily Norton

A Lincoln woman says she feels ‘sick to her stomach’ after her Facebook profile was stolen by a brazen scammer.

Not only did the alleged hacker tell her they would return her profile if she sent them money, but they instantly set about attempting to con others online using her identity and fake stories about losing a son to cancer.

Gemma Wowk, a 30-year-old cleaner who lives in the city centre, wants to warn others after she was kicked out of her account on the social media site.

Setting up a new profile to message the old one on August 8, she was surprised to find they quickly replied.

“Do you want your account back?”, they asked her. “Pay £30.”

“What are you going to do?”, Gemma asked. “Count 1-10 and I will block you,” they replied, followed by a sinister comment: “Ask your sister.”

She wants to warn others of the impersonator

Gemma told The Lincolnite she reported the hacker to Facebook and told the imposter she would be contacting authorities, a threat to which the scam artist retorted: “LOL, I fear nobody.”

Facebook has not yet responded to Gemma’s complaints, and she is yet to hear back from Lincolnshire Police after making a report to them.

Now, she wants to share her story to warn others of the ‘fake’ account and others like it.

“They are now scamming people by telling them they are selling a PlayStation5.”

One post falsely claims Gemma had lost a son to cancer:

Fake posts began to appear about a PS5

Gemma and her sister are attempting to warn others of fake posts they see online by posting comments, but she has been blocked by the account.

“I feel sick to my stomach and so upset that someone would do this”, she told reporters.

Gemma’s old account, which has been taken over by a scammer

“They messaged one of my friends selling some product and I had no idea. They are selling a ps5 in the selling sites too.

“The thing is I’m such a caring person and I wouldn’t do anything like this. The thought of someone scamming people in my name… I don’t sleep properly anymore.”

If you have information about this, or would like to speak to a reporter about your story, you can email [email protected] or [email protected]

Forensic investigators have begun combing a house in Lincoln after a woman was found with multiple stab wounds in the early hours of the morning.

Ambulance crews called police to a semi-detached property on George Boole Drive at around 4.10am on August 17.

A woman in her 40s had suffered what’s believed to be stab wounds to her back, arm and chest.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder 13 minutes after the call was received.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The female victim is in hospital in a serious condition.

Police crews remained on the scene through much of Wednesday and could be seen entering the property.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A forensic examiner seen in an upstairs room in the house. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincolnshire Police said they believed it was an isolated incident and are not looking for anyone else.

Anyone with information is being asked to get in touch. You can contact police:

• By calling 101 quoting incident 57 of 17 August.
• By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 57 of 17 August in the subject line.
• If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.