They say love is blind—but in this case, it also had a crypto wallet. What started as a “wrong number” text turned into a million-dollar heartbreak for an Ohio family, and now the U.S. government is stepping in to try and clean up the mess.
In this publication, we’re uncovering a cryptocurrency scam that wiped out over $1.6 million in savings from a brother and sister in Ohio. It’s a cautionary tale of how trust, technology, and manipulation can collide with devastating results.
The scam began innocently: a text message to the victim from someone looking for “Zach.” That simple mistake spiraled into conversations on Telegram with a scammer using the alias “Shaw Goddess.” She posed as a savvy investor and convinced the elderly victim to follow her lead into cryptocurrency.
At her direction, he opened accounts on Crypto.com and later Strike.com when his buying limits were capped. Over time, he wired more than $1 million of his savings into crypto, while also persuading his sister to invest over $600,000. The scammer then lured them into transferring all their assets into a fake investment platform.
When they tried to withdraw funds, the trap was revealed. The victim’s account was “locked,” and his sister was told she had to pay a 10% tax upfront before accessing her money. That red flag finally exposed the scheme. By then, the damage was done.
Federal investigators later traced about $200,000 of the stolen money through the Tron blockchain, eventually freezing 325,060 USDT (Tether) in a crypto wallet. Those funds are now the subject of a U.S. forfeiture action, with the government seeking to return them to the victims.
Why does this matter to you?
Because this wasn’t a one-off con. It’s part of a growing wave of scams exploiting crypto platforms, romance-like approaches, and seniors’ trust to siphon away life savings. Once the money moves into anonymous blockchain wallets, recovery becomes a long shot—unless investigators get lucky, like they did here.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Be skeptical of random texts. Scammers often use “wrong number” messages as their entry point.
- Don’t invest with strangers. If someone you’ve never met promises high returns, it’s almost certainly a scam.
- Verify platforms. Only use well-known, regulated exchanges—and never transfer funds to “investment” sites you can’t independently confirm.
- Pause before acting. Scammers rely on urgency. Slow down and talk to someone you trust.
- Report immediately. If you suspect fraud, contact your bank, the exchange, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Quick Tip: Did you know that more than $3 billion was reported lost to investment scams in 2023 alone, with crypto scams leading the charge?
Pro Tip: If a “tax” or “fee” is demanded upfront before you can withdraw your own money, it’s a scam—every time.
Stay safe, stay informed,
Key Terms Defined:
- USDT (Tether): A cryptocurrency “stablecoin” pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio.
- Blockchain: A digital public ledger recording cryptocurrency transactions securely and transparently.
- Fake Investment Platform: A fraudulent website or app designed to mimic legitimate investment tools while stealing deposits.
- Civil Complaint in Forfeiture: A legal action by the U.S. government to seize assets suspected of being linked to crime.
- Tron Blockchain: A blockchain network used for transferring cryptocurrency, often favored by scammers for its speed and low fees.
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