WPBN: The Federal Bureau of Investigation is issuing a warning to elderly citizens about a fraud that has claimed nearly ten million dollars from residents of South Carolina this year.
“We know there are multiple people in the Upstate that have experienced this or people who have attempted to scam them out of their hard-earned money,” FBI Public Affairs Specialist, Kevin Wheeler stated.
Michael and Roxanne Chrisman are two of the people who have fallen prey to a sophisticated and comprehensive technological swindle.
Their lives were flipped upside down when they were given the instruction to take their life savings and convert it into gold. This occurred approximately six months ago.
“This would be like a spy novel. If somebody were writing a spy novel this would be the perfect story line,” Michael Chrisman stated.
A pop-up message that appeared on Michael Chrisman’s PC was the beginning of everything. It was stated in the warning that the computer had been locked, and that all of his information had been broken into.
When he called the number that was provided to him, the guy who answered the phone revealed that he was an employee of a huge technology company. He was able to identify himself successfully.
“It was identified as a Microsoft number, so I was comfortable because I have a Microsoft system and once I called that number this gentleman got on and said you’re right, you’ve been compromised. We need to fix that and says that you may very well have been compromised in your financial accounts also so you need to call your financial institution,” Michael Chrisman stated.
Michael didn’t realize the hackers were intercepting all of his calls when he dialed the number on the back of his credit card. “They answered as my financial institution fraud department and I said, I’ve been a victim of identity theft and fraud.”
Michael and his spouse, Roxanne, spoke with numerous people over the course of several months. They were told by the hackers, who were impersonating bank staff, to sell their cash and buy gold bars. After that, couriers were dispatched to their residence on multiple times to collect them.
“They would walk up and then I would walk out and then the transaction would take place. I would hand them the package which was the gold, and they went away. We were directed at that time to go back in the house, just stay in the house and then they would confirm that the Federal Reserve was accepting the package,” Michael Chrisman stated.
They were informed that until their accounts were no longer compromised, the gold would remain there. It would then be turned into cash and returned to their accounts. That never took place.
“You get victimized by the actual scammers but then you’re left with the IRS and consequences of having to pay and with us we had IRAs that we let go. We had Roth IRAs, regular IRAs. We had inheritance. All kinds of things like that that we’re now going to be subject to paying taxes for and we’re not prepared to do that,” Roxanne Chrisman stated.
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Roxanne took pictures of the couriers’ vehicles. According to the FBI, they are currently looking into the matter and attempting to identify the individuals responsible.
Additionally, the FBI wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again. “It’s probably a scam if someone asks you to transfer your funds from one account to another to safeguard it,” stated FBI Public Affairs Specialist Kevin Wheeler.
The FBI offers the following advice to help you stay safe:
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails, texts, or popups.
- Never allow someone you don’t know to use your computer.
- Never download software at someone you don’t know’s request.
- Never meet with strangers to deliver money or valuable metals.
- You will never be instructed to pay money, buy gift cards, or send precious metals by U.S. government entities.
According to Michael and Roxanne, the con artists warned them not to notify anyone or risk having their case compromised. Additionally, they took care to avoid leaving a paper trace.
They claimed that although the warning indicators were present, they were not noticed until it was too late. In order to prevent others from experiencing the same scenario, they are cautioning others.
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“If we can keep someone else from being scammed or catch them in the middle of it then that’s a benefit for us,” Roxanne Chrisman stated.
Stop communicating and refrain from sending money if you are currently involved. Call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or your local law enforcement if you think you could be a victim.
