GREENVILLE, S.C. (InvestigateTV) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning seniors about a scam that has cost South Carolinians nearly $10 million 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 said.
Michael and Roxanne Chrisman are two of the victims of a very advanced and in-depth tech scam.
Six months ago their life turned upside down when they were instructed to withdraw their life savings and turn it into gold.
“This would be like a spy novel. If somebody were writing a spy novel, this would be the perfect storyline,” Michael Chrisman said.
It all started with a pop-up message on Michael Chrisman’s computer. The notice said the computer was locked and all of his information had been compromised. It gave him a phone number to call, and when he did, the person on the other end identified himself as someone who worked for a large tech company.
“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 said.
Michael called the number on the back of his credit card not realizing all of his calls were being intercepted by the hackers themselves. “They answered as my financial institution fraud department and I said, I’ve been a victim of identity theft and fraud.”
Michael and his wife, Roxanne, had many conversations over several months and talked to multiple people. The hackers, posing as bank employees, instructed them to liquidate cash and purchase gold bars. Couriers were then sent out to their home to pick them up on several different occasions.
“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 said.
They were told that the gold would be held there until their accounts were no longer compromised. After that, it would be converted to cash and deposited back into their accounts. That never happened.
“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 said.
Roxanne snapped photos of the couriers and their cars. The FBI said they are now investigating and trying to identify the people involved.
The FBI also wants to prevent it from happening again. “If someone is asking you to move your money from to one account into another in order to protect it, its likely a scam,” FBI Public Affairs Specialist, Kevin Wheeler said.
The FBI gives these tips to help you protect yourself:
- Do not click on unsolicited popups, text message or email links.
- Never give unknown individuals access to your computer.
- Do not download software at the request of unknown individuals.
- Do not meet with unknown individuals to deliver cash or precious metals.
- U.S. Government agencies will never tell you to wire money, send precious metals or purchase gift cards.
Michael and Roxanne said that the scammers told them not to tell anyone or it would jeopardize their case. They also made sure not to leave a paper trail.
They said the warning signs were there, but they didn’t see them until it was too late. They’re warning others, so the same thing doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“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 said.
If you are currently involved, end communications and do not send money.
If you believe you may be a victim, contact your local law enforcement or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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