FOX 2 – Metro Detroit native Nicole Vowell thought she saw a familiar face on social media and when he hit her up with a direct message, she wrote back. So many of us are using social media direct messages as a primary form of communication. In order to make sure you’re talking to an actual friend, go old school and give them a call – sooner than later.
But the man she thought was Darius on her Instagram story, wasn’t Darius. Someone hacked his account and was orchestrating a scam. She was told it was a Bitcoin mining strategy.
“I have known Darius for about 10 years, I know he’s a family man, a man of God, a good man and he owns a business. He posted something on his story that said if you can (pick) a name that starts with an ‘A’ I’ll give you a cash prize,” Vowell said. “And I’m usually pretty skeptical but I knew Darius so I said whatever and so I needed a little extra cash for my mom, for the holidays, (so I said) what could hurt?”
“Initially I was told to put in $800 and then I would get $5,000 back and I thought okay, I have $800, that’s cool,” Vowell said.
The former television reporter now lives in Utah. She has done stories on scams. This just didn’t feel like it. After all, it’s Darius, a man she’s known for 10 years.
So she moved forward and paid. She knew Bitcoin mining is a quick way some people make money.
But after the 800 dollar investment, the stakes got higher.
“Then, it was ‘If you pay $7,500 extra, we…
