A 73-year-old grandfather was nearly plunged into life-altering debt after falling victim to sophisticated crypto scammers — not once, but twice.
📞 It Started With a Phone Call…
The victim was lured in by a too-good-to-be-true crypto investment opportunity via a cold call. Persuaded by the scammers’ convincing tactics, he lost £14,500 in the first wave of the scam.
🕵️♂️ Then Came “Gabriel” — A False Savior
In his lowest moments, the man received a second call. This time, the scammer pretended to be from a fraud recovery firm, claiming he could help retrieve the lost funds.
“He persistently chased me — even when I was on holiday,” said the victim. “I should have hung up, but he sounded so professional.”
Over the next month, “Gabriel” convinced the man to send another £66,500 from his business account. Each payment was disguised as a necessary step to recover his money, with fake emails and documents backing their story.
He even took out four personal loans to pay these bogus "fees"—a move that left him mentally distressed, emotionally broken, and financially cornered.
❌ The Moment of Truth
After sending a final payment of £7,500, the elderly man waited in vain. The promised funds never came. “That’s when I knew. I’d been scammed again,” he said.
Ashamed and emotionally drained, he didn’t tell anyone—embarrassment and fear held him back.
✅ The Bittersweet Ending: A Glimmer of Hope
Luckily, he found the National Fraud Helpline (NFH) solicitors, who stepped in and recovered every penny from his bank, Co-Op Bank.
“I thought I’d lost the lot. I was amazed when I got the call that I’d been refunded. I cried.”
⚠️ Lessons for All:
Scammers target the vulnerable — especially the elderly — using pressure, fake urgency, and emotional manipulation.
Always verify before sending money—especially when cold-called or contacted online.
Banks and authorities must do more to question suspicious high-value transfers.
Fraud recovery scams are increasingly common: scammers pretending to help you recover your money, just to steal more.
💬 Have elderly family members or friends? Talk to them about these scams. Share this story. It might save someone.
#Cryptoscam #FinancialAwareness #BitcoinSCAM #CryptoSafety #CryptoClause
