Victim ‘invested’ $120,000 with scammer, wanted to invest more, WA cops say
A fraud victim had “invested” more than $100,000 with a scammer, and wanted to send the scammer even more money before the victim was stopped by some quick-thinking employees, according to Centralia police.
Centralia police shared what happened in a police activity log for May 16.
Police say the scam began with the victim clicking on a social media advertisement that offered AI-assisted stock investing.
The victim paid $250 for the service and was contacted by the scammer who pretended to be a financial adviser, according to police.
“After investing around $120,000, the scammer sent updates showing the victim’s portfolio was growing, reflecting a value of over $1,000,000,” the police information reads.
The victim then visited a financial institution to wire an additional $70,000, but employees refused to approve the transaction, according to police.
An officer and detective later contacted the victim and were eventually able to prove that the service was a scam.
“Many such scams originate overseas, and the money is nearly impossible to recover,” said police in a statement. “If you have any questions about whether any service is fraudulent or a scam, be sure to check with your bank and/or law enforcement.”
