ENCOUNTER WITH A CRYPTO CROOK

          Not knowing a thing about crypto trading, I contacted (by email) someone I had been reading relevant posts she made on a popular business and crypto related social media site. She seemed quite knowledgeable about that kind of investments.  She contacted me via WhatsApp and told me the experience she had, which matched her social media profile.

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          We only actually spoke twice. Her actual “training” took place via APP texting.  I thought that and her unwillingness to share an address was odd but made perfect sense. She said she wanted to make sure my privacy would not be violated. Plus, she said, because of her wealth… she did not want anyone to know where to find her.  Fear of being kidnapped?

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          She gave me the name of her father. She said he owns a very successful hedge fund management company in NYC. That seemed to check out. As did her claim to own three businesses in Los Angeles. The only part of this charade apparently true:  Her claim to be in LA CA.  During one of my “classes,” I got a quake alert from my USGS app, reporting a 4.0+ temblor in LA. And a moment later she said there had just been an earthquake where she lived.

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          I thought (obviously) I did my due diligence, but for a long-time news guy… it’s clear; I failed abysmally. She walked me through setting up a cash.app and “my” NASDAQ trading platform accounts  –– Using all my money after convincing me there was a minimum required to make it worthwhile. All of that was valid and legitimate, except for the trading account.  It was a spoofed account used as a temp holding area for the scammer(s?).  Who cleaned it out a few hours later.

           Along with my investment, "Hannah Jane Lynn Wilson"  and her likely accomplices had vanished. All traces and evidence which I had and used related to "her" were also gone: her Whatsapp identity and mobile phone number, and presence on various social media platforms and the phone number she used briefly twice just to "prove" she was a real person." Even the NYC phone number to which  "her father" supposedly owned an a hedge fund investment company. All of it: Vanished. 

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          Didn’t realize i'd been defrauded until a few days later when a friend from the local university _MIU_ examined everything and gave me the bad news. Immediately contacted and filed a C3A complaint and called Los Angeles FBI.  Good news, I submitted all the text exchanges and screen grabs of every transaction, and each transaction image shared or extracted from social media sites.  The investigators still said, do not expect any kind of recovery. Success only happens about 10% of the time.

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           Hopefully, the culprits will be caught to avoid wiping out the savings of other unsuspecting people – especially the elderly. And my story will put other possible faud targets on guard. But we’ll see. If your or someone dear to you is targeted by the crypto crooks, use the resources below to get help.  And be sure to contact your local media to put enlighten your community. I know one gullible stupido old guy who will not make this mistake again.

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           Yes. It was a very valuable lesson. And even if it was worth what it cost me... It has left us in a very desperate financial situation. And I welcome ANY support you can offer – even if only words of encouragement.  But, if you're willing and able to make a monetary contribution… I would sincerely appreciate your gift.   If you are able to help that way, please make a cash transfer using using Zelle to zapduff@gmail.com or via the cash.app to $zapduff.

      Again. Thank you very very much,

~~ Duffey

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  ALERT:  🔎 Be advised ➡️  As expected, many new "investigative agencies" have sprung up in recent months.  All claim to be able to identify cyber crooks and recover the losses of cyber fraud victims. I am personally suspect all them and assume some are just another way to also rip off  those already suffering. Validate credentials before putting them on your case. Clever use of SEO coding allows them to reach people using a search engine to access one of the following genuine services.  

Tips to avoid scams:  From Investopedia

How To Report Cryptocurrency Scams

• the IC3:  Internet Crime Complaint Center  *File Here First*
• the CFTC: Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
• the SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 
• the FTC: Federal Trade Commission Fraud Unit
• Local Print Media
• Television Media 
• News Radio Media
• Social Media

   Note:  Referred to documentation will be added soon.