A 73-year-old woman in the United States was duped into sending at least $20,000 to a scam artist posing as an MSNBC news anchor. according to New York PostPatricia Taylor of Seattle started a month-long conversation on Facebook earlier this year with someone pretending to be Ari Melber, the Emmy-winning journalist who hosts the nightly show. ‘The Beat with Ari Melber’ But msnbcThe 73-year-old woman was convinced she was talking to a news host. However, the scammer operating the Facebook account exploited her.
according to PostMs Taylor, a former Boeing employee, was defrauded of at least $20,000 as of November 1. The fake news anchor initially asked her to send him money and gift cards to treat her sick dog Penny. The scammer also allegedly tricked her into thinking they were in love and going to get married. The fraudster also sent an engagement ring to a 73-year-old man.
Last Monday, Ms. Taylor flew from Seattle to New York to meet the man she believed to be the MSNBC host. His trip included a stop in Portland, where a relative tracked down his cell phone and intercepted him. Mary Taylor’s daughter, 73, believed that if her mother had been in New York, the scam artist would have met her, taken her hostage and demanded ransom in exchange for her release.
According to Mary Taylor, when her mother suspected she was being scammed, the fraudster messaged her saying, “When did Ari Melber become a scammer?” The fraudster also used an AI-generated voice message that resembled the anchor’s speaking voice. “You’re reading my messages and not responding. I would never scam you. Have you found someone else?” Fake Melber said in the voice note.
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The daughter said the family conducted two interviews with Patricia Taylor in an attempt to convince her that the person she was speaking to was not the real Melber. Ms Mary said, “Our mother is not a dumb person. How did she fall into this trap? How did she not see what was happening? You try to explain the logic and it doesn’t make sense.”
He wrote separately, “She is not in the right mind, is not taking her medication and is canceling doctors’ appointments. She doesn’t take care of herself in the food she eats (she has diabetes) and sometimes for days at a time.” She doesn’t even change her clothes.” A Facebook post.
Ms Mary also said she was worried her mother might still try to meet the man pretending to be a news anchor.
Scam artists commonly target the elderly. Citing a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report, the Post said mega fraud generates illicit profits of $3 billion annually.
