Elderly Couple Duped Into ‘Helping’ Investigation in $1.3 Million Bitcoin ATM Scam
Posted On January 10, 2026
An elderly couple was swindled out of their $1.3 million retirement fund by scammers pretending to be representatives from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The elaborate scam involved Bitcoin ATMs and gold bullion transactions.
Barbara and Larry Cook were approached by fraudsters in September 2023, who impersonated security representatives of Amazon and TD Bank. The scammers convinced the Cooks that their identity had been misused for illegal purchases on the dark web.
The Cooks were ensnared in a convoluted scam that had them depositing large amounts of money into Bitcoin ATMs and surrendering gold bullion in Maine and Florida. They were made to believe they were aiding …
About The Author
