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Elderly Couple Loses $1.3 Million Life Savings to Crypto Scammers Impersonating Officials

Elderly Couple Loses $1.3 Million Life Savings to Crypto Scammers Impersonating Officials

Author:

Global Cryptocurrency

Published:

2026-01-12 15:51:02

20

2

BTCCSquare news:

An 82-year-old couple, Barbara and Larry Cook, fell victim to a sophisticated crypto scam that drained their $1.3 million retirement savings. The fraudsters posed as representatives from Amazon, TD Bank, and the Federal Trade Commission, leveraging fear tactics to coerce the couple into transferring funds.

The scam began with a call in September 2023, where perpetrators claimed the couple's personal data was linked to dark web purchases. Posing as an FTC agent named "Ryan Terry," one scammer convinced the Cooks they were aiding a government cybercrime investigation—a ruse that escalated into relentless pressure to liquidate assets.

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