A tech scam cost one couple their savings—now the FBI is warning seniors
- Replies 0
It often starts with something small—a pop-up, a call, a message that seems routine—and ends with devastation that no one saw coming.
For one retired couple in South Carolina, what appeared to be a harmless computer warning turned into the loss of everything they had worked for.
Behind the screens and scripted voices were scammers who studied their every move, weaving a story too convincing to doubt. What followed wasn’t just a theft—it was a masterclass in manipulation that the FBI now warns could happen to anyone.
Michael and Roxanne Chrisman thought they were doing the right thing when a message claiming to be from Microsoft told them their computer had been compromised.
The number looked legitimate, so Michael called—and from that moment, every move he made was intercepted by scammers posing as both tech support and bank employees.
“You’re right, you’ve been compromised,” the fake agent told him, urging him to “call your financial institution.”
But when Michael dialed the number on the back of his credit card, the call was rerouted to the very people orchestrating the scam.
Over the next few months, they convinced the couple that their money needed to be converted to gold and “secured” by the Federal Reserve for protection.
The couple, desperate to protect their life savings, followed every instruction. Couriers dressed in professional attire arrived outside their Greenville home, collecting packages of gold that the Chrismans believed were being transferred for safekeeping.
Also read: Elder fraud case: Personal assistant accused of stealing $10M—see the shocking thing she brought to court
“They would walk up, and then I would walk out, and then the transaction would take place,” Michael recalled. They told us to go back inside and wait for confirmation that the Federal Reserve had accepted it.
That confirmation never came. The gold—representing decades of savings, IRAs, and inheritances—vanished without a trace.
Roxanne said the financial loss was only part of the pain. “You get victimized by the actual scammers, but then you’re left with the IRS and consequences of having to pay,” she explained.
Because the funds were withdrawn from retirement accounts, the couple now faces heavy tax penalties on top of their loss.
Their case, the FBI says, is far from isolated—South Carolinians have already lost nearly $10 million this year to similar schemes.
“If someone is asking you to move your money from one account into another in order to protect it, it’s likely a scam,” warned Kevin Wheeler, an FBI public affairs specialist.
Also read: Discover the smart scam alert that could protect your bank account!
The scams, Wheeler said, are increasingly sophisticated and often begin with fake pop-ups or text messages warning of compromised accounts.
Once they gain trust, the fraudsters use fear to isolate victims, telling them not to alert anyone—not even their banks or family members.
“They told us not to tell anyone or it would jeopardize the investigation,” Roxanne said. The scammers left almost no paper trail, but Roxanne managed to photograph the couriers and their vehicles, evidence now being used in an ongoing FBI investigation.
For the Chrismans, though, the damage can’t be undone—their focus now is on helping others avoid the same fate.
Source: trumancyber / Instagram
Scams like this thrive on fear and trust—two things that can turn anyone into a target. Have you or someone you know ever encountered a suspicious message or call like this? How would you react if someone claiming to be from your bank told you your money was at risk? Share your thoughts below, and help spread awareness before another family loses everything.
For one retired couple in South Carolina, what appeared to be a harmless computer warning turned into the loss of everything they had worked for.
Behind the screens and scripted voices were scammers who studied their every move, weaving a story too convincing to doubt. What followed wasn’t just a theft—it was a masterclass in manipulation that the FBI now warns could happen to anyone.
Michael and Roxanne Chrisman thought they were doing the right thing when a message claiming to be from Microsoft told them their computer had been compromised.
The number looked legitimate, so Michael called—and from that moment, every move he made was intercepted by scammers posing as both tech support and bank employees.
“You’re right, you’ve been compromised,” the fake agent told him, urging him to “call your financial institution.”
A tech scam cost one couple their savings—now the FBI is warning seniors. Image source: Zulfugar Karimov / Unsplash
But when Michael dialed the number on the back of his credit card, the call was rerouted to the very people orchestrating the scam.
Over the next few months, they convinced the couple that their money needed to be converted to gold and “secured” by the Federal Reserve for protection.
The couple, desperate to protect their life savings, followed every instruction. Couriers dressed in professional attire arrived outside their Greenville home, collecting packages of gold that the Chrismans believed were being transferred for safekeeping.
Also read: Elder fraud case: Personal assistant accused of stealing $10M—see the shocking thing she brought to court
“They would walk up, and then I would walk out, and then the transaction would take place,” Michael recalled. They told us to go back inside and wait for confirmation that the Federal Reserve had accepted it.
That confirmation never came. The gold—representing decades of savings, IRAs, and inheritances—vanished without a trace.
Roxanne said the financial loss was only part of the pain. “You get victimized by the actual scammers, but then you’re left with the IRS and consequences of having to pay,” she explained.
Because the funds were withdrawn from retirement accounts, the couple now faces heavy tax penalties on top of their loss.
Their case, the FBI says, is far from isolated—South Carolinians have already lost nearly $10 million this year to similar schemes.
“If someone is asking you to move your money from one account into another in order to protect it, it’s likely a scam,” warned Kevin Wheeler, an FBI public affairs specialist.
Also read: Discover the smart scam alert that could protect your bank account!
The scams, Wheeler said, are increasingly sophisticated and often begin with fake pop-ups or text messages warning of compromised accounts.
Once they gain trust, the fraudsters use fear to isolate victims, telling them not to alert anyone—not even their banks or family members.
“They told us not to tell anyone or it would jeopardize the investigation,” Roxanne said. The scammers left almost no paper trail, but Roxanne managed to photograph the couriers and their vehicles, evidence now being used in an ongoing FBI investigation.
For the Chrismans, though, the damage can’t be undone—their focus now is on helping others avoid the same fate.
Source: trumancyber / Instagram
How to Spot a Scam Before It’s Too Late
- Unsolicited pop-ups or messages warning of security breaches.
- Urgent requests to move money, especially into unfamiliar accounts or assets like gold or gift cards.
- Instructions to keep the situation secret from friends, family, or bank staff.
- Requests for personal information or remote access to your computer.
- Phone numbers that appear legitimate but are provided by the person contacting you, not found independently.
If You’ve Been Targeted or Victimized
- End all communication with the suspected scammer immediately.
- Contact your local law enforcement and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
- Document everything: Save emails, take photos, and write down details of your interactions.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- This common tech warning is costing seniors millions—don’t fall for it
- Protect your life savings: The one red flag that could stop a bank scam before it starts
