Seeking Victim Information for Fraud Scam

In January 2024, a victim was defrauded of approximately $130,000 after receiving via email what appeared to be an invoice from PayPal, which purported purchases she never made and listed a customer support telephone number in which the victim could call to dispute the transactions. The victim called the provided telephone number and spoke to individuals who claimed to be PayPal representatives, representatives from her bank, and government officials who told the victim that the victim was entitled to a refund to the victim’s account and thereafter sent the victim a form online, likely giving them access to the victim’s computer.

The victim was thereafter instructed to enter a specific amount into the form in order to get the refund, then told that due to the victim’s own error the victim had entered more than the victim was entitled to, and now owed PayPal money. The bad actors told the victim that the victim could not simply refund the money as the victim would have to pay taxes on it. Pursuant to the fraud scheme, which evolved over time, the victim purchased approximately $100,000 of gold coins that the victim gave to an unidentified courier. The victim also withdrew cash from the victim’s bank and deposited $14,800 twice into a Bitcoin ATM machine, following the instruction of the bad actors. The victim then withdrew funds from the victim’s retirement account, at which time the FBI intervened.

The investigation is ongoing and recipients of this questionnaire have been identified through various sources as potential victims of fraud, pursuant to the scheme. Of note, even if the way in which the recipient of this questionnaire was defrauded differs from the details above, please fill out the questionnaire in its entirety, with as much information as possible.