Greg's Corner

Apple Scam Turned Romance Scam, Costs Victim $1M

A troubling scam that started with a simple internet search has become a cautionary tale about how fraud can evolve from impersonation to manipulation and, ultimately, devastating financial loss. The incident began when a man attempted to send money through Apple Pay but encountered an issue. Hoping to resolve the problem, he searched online for a customer service number. Unfortunately, the number he found was fraudulent.

He was connected to someone posing as an Apple representative. The scammer, identifying herself as a support agent, claimed that his account had been compromised and that immediate action was necessary to protect his finances. What followed was a calculated effort to gain his trust and strip him of his life savings.

The scam began with requests for gift cards, a well-known tactic used by criminals to extract untraceable funds. The scammer offered scripted responses in case store employees became suspicious. This was followed by months of daily interaction, during which the fraudster created a false sense of companionship and intimacy, turning the financial scheme into a romance scam.

As trust deepened, the scammer asked the man to retrieve his physical assets from a precious metals depository. He complied, believing he was safeguarding his wealth, only to turn it over to individuals sent to his home. These individuals, known as “money mules,” transport or launder money for criminal networks. Some do so knowingly, while others are themselves manipulated into participating.

The scammer eventually vanished once the man’s resources were depleted, leaving him with over $1 million in losses.

The emotional and financial toll is significant, especially for someone who had spent decades building a stable life. Although no arrests have been made, the incident serves as a serious reminder of how quickly trust can be weaponized when criminals take advantage of technology, loneliness, and confusion.

This case highlights the critical need for caution when seeking customer support online. Fake support numbers often top search results due to paid advertisements or fraudulent search engine optimization tactics. It is essential to visit official websites directly when looking for contact information. Anyone who receives unexpected instructions involving gift cards or in-person exchanges should treat such communications as highly suspicious.

The best protection remains suspicion. Never transfer money or valuables to a stranger under pressure. Always verify identities independently, especially when financial accounts are involved. While law enforcement continues to investigate, the loss already suffered cannot be undone. But if one person learns from this incident and avoids a similar fate, the story may serve a greater purpose.