#Cryptocurrency #Scammers Steal £180,000 from Norfolk Resident
A resident of Norfolk, England, has lost £180,000 (approximately $227,412) falling victim to cryptocurrency scammers who gained access to her personal devices.
Local law enforcement reports that the Norfolk resident filled out an online form promoted in the context of cryptocurrency investments. Subsequently, unknown individuals contacted her, promising to open a trading account and manage it on her behalf in the cryptocurrency market. The criminals maintained contact with the victim for six months.
Gaining her trust, the scammers convinced the woman to grant them remote access to her phone and laptop to periodically transfer substantial sums of money. She believed that these funds were being invested in digital assets. The deception was uncovered when she reached out to her bank to inquire about the status of the transfer. It turned out that there were no investments, and the money had been stolen by the fraudsters.
"The first thing I felt when I learned about this fraud was fear for my future because I was left with almost nothing. My life will never be the same, and it's difficult for me to grasp just how ruthless some people can be," shared the deceived woman.
Norfolk Police urge the public to exercise caution when it comes to cryptocurrency investments. Scammers frequently lure individuals through social media or fake websites. To make their advertisements seem credible, fraudsters may use photos or fake endorsements from celebrities. Police emphasize that no legitimate company will pressure people into investments and recommend conducting thorough research before parting with money.
A similar incident occurred in Chelyabinsk, Russia, where police arrested an immigrant who had been deceived out of 3 million rubles under the pretense of selling cryptocurrency.