Single Mum Scammed Out of £26,500 in Work-From-Home Crypto Scheme
A single mother has been left devastated after falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam, losing a total of £26,500. Ogo Ezeaka, a 34-year-old mother from Northampton, signed up for an online job opportunity she received through a WhatsApp message from a recruiter named ‘Flora’. The job promised flexible work from home, but it turned out to be a complex swindle that left Ogo in significant debt.
Ogo, who also had a full-time job in IT, hoped to earn extra income by uploading products to a website in exchange for cryptocurrency payments and commissions on sales. However, she soon discovered that she needed to purchase the right to upload products on the website using real currency, while only earning cryptocurrency in return. As the scam progressed, she was asked to pay various fees to access her earned crypto and continue selling, leading her to take out loans to cover the costs.
Despite paying the fees, Ogo found herself unable to access the crypto funds she had earned. Her balance on the website eventually dropped to a staggering negative £18,000. Desperate to resolve the situation, she attempted to pay off her debt by using her monthly salary and even resorted to taking out a payday loan. By late July, she had managed to raise enough money to pay off her debt, but her online account was suddenly frozen, and she was asked to pay an additional £6,000 to restore her balance. Ogo’s attempts to contact ‘Flora’ for assistance were in vain, as she had been blocked.
Ogo reported the incident to the police, but they claimed there was nothing they could do. She also contacted ActionFraud, but since the scammer’s number couldn’t be traced, they couldn’t take further action at the time.
As a result of this devastating scam, Ogo is now facing significant financial hardship. She has accumulated a total debt of £26,500, including taxes, loans, and the initial amount she was scammed out of. With a 10-month repayment plan for the payday loan and interest, she is struggling to make ends meet and has had to rely on the support of family and friends to cover her basic living costs.
While Ogo’s case serves as a warning about the dangers of work-from-home scams and the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, it also raises concerns about the authorities’ ability to address and prevent such fraudulent activities. With the rise of online scams and increasingly sophisticated tactics used by scammers, it is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant and exercise caution when engaging in online job opportunities or investments.
In the meantime, Ogo continues to face the painful consequences of her encounter with the scam. She hopes that her story will serve as a cautionary tale for others and calls for greater efforts to combat online fraud and protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to similar schemes.
Disclaimer: This news article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgment and seek professional advice before engaging in any financial transactions or investments.
