You might think scams can’t happen to you. But this one shows how crafty fraudsters can be. Here’s what happened: The scam started with emails from fedraltrade.ftc@outlook.com and calls claiming to be from Peter White, supposedly an officer at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Using a fake badge number and convincing talk, they tricked the victim into trusting them. The scam involved several Bitcoin transactions, totaling a staggering $160,000, which were traced to cashouts through Bitget. Fidelity and Chase were used to move funds before converting them to crypto.

What’s shocking is how they used AnyDesk to access the victim’s computer remotely. They played on emotions, mixing a little romance with fake authority to pull their strings. This wasn’t just about stealing money; it was about psychological manipulation. We traced every move: seven transactions in total, with smaller ones to avoid suspicion. But their pattern stood out. No one legitimate will ever ask for Bitcoin payments to “fix issues” or “recover accounts.”

We stepped in with our cryptocurrency tracing service to uncover the scam’s path. Our team identified the fraudster’s cashouts and prepared a report for law enforcement. This case reinforces that scammers can appear legitimate, but small signs, like a strange email address or remote access requests, always give them away.

So, is this a scam? Absolutely. It’s not just fraud; it’s a calculated attack on trust. If someone contacts you claiming to be from the FTC or another authority, verify their identity before acting. Never let anyone access your computer, and think twice before sending money or crypto.

Let’s learn from this case and stay alert. We’re here to help if you or someone you know has been targeted by scammers. Together, we can fight back.