Scammers have been using a new social security scam, sending texts and emails about suspicious bank purchases. When contacted, they claim the victim's identity has been stolen and instruct them to convert cash to Bitcoin. The FTC reports that identity theft occurs every six seconds in the U.S. A service called Aura monitors identities and alerts users of potential threats. The scam involves pretending to be federal agents, urging victims to cancel bank accounts and transfer funds to a "secure" digital wallet, which is actually the scammer's Bitcoin wallet. The narrative includes a detailed account of someone playing along with the scam to expose it.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Scammers have been targeting victims with a new social security scam.
2. Victims receive text messages or emails claiming a strange purchase was made on their bank account.
3. The scammers claim the victim's identity has been stolen and an account opened in their name using their social security number.
4. The scam involves taking cash out of the bank to convert to Bitcoin.
5. Every six seconds, someone is a victim of identity theft in the U.S., according to the FTC from 2021.
6. Aura is a service that monitors identity and gives alerts if something happens.
7. The scam script makes victims think federal agents are helping them with identity breach issues.
8. Victims are instructed to cancel bank accounts and move funds to a secure wallet, which is actually a Bitcoin ATM.
9. The scammer sent a QR code linked to his Bitcoin wallet for the victim to scan at the ATM.
10. The victim is instructed to buy Bitcoin at a government-authorized machine.
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