Since Scott Gurney, the Sidney man who won $55 million in the lottery, came forward to claim his win, a number of fraudulent Facebook pages have surfaced, and some of them seem to be defrauding individuals of their money, Bitcoin (BTC), and other cryptocurrencies.
The Vancouver Island man won his Lotto Max jackpot award that was selected more than a month ago, making it the region’s highest lottery victory.
William Scott Gurney received the award on April 4 and described it as a dream come true after matching all seven numbers on his ticket in the draw on February 28.
Victims fall for Bitcoin scams online
Meanwhile, some Facebook profiles are using his identity to defraud others of their funds. Some of these accounts provide financial assistance, while others make claims and insist that theirs is the only legitimate one, The Times Colonist reported.
The real Gurney has already been informed by one man that someone used his name to defraud them of $300 worth of Bitcoin. Another individual allegedly informed the Times Colonist that they had lost $450 in Bitcoin after contacting a Facebook account that purported to belong to Gurney and was willing to assist families.
However, it remains unclear how the fraudsters persuaded people to send their Bitcoin holdings, but Scott Gurvey stated,
“As the old saying goes, use the smell test on it.” “If it doesn’t smell right, throw it out.”
Moreover, Gurney has urged anyone who has fallen victim to the fraud to get in touch with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). While empathizing with those who might be having financial difficulties, the 58-year-old man advises that people should exercise caution when considering offers that seem suspicious.
The B.C. Lottery Corporation added that anyone with questions or worries should get in touch with them. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation advised anyone getting unsolicited letters to exercise caution and not disclose personal information or make any payments.
Despite the undeniable solutions and financial freedom they provide, this recent revelation demonstrates that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are usually being abused to defraud unwary individuals online due to their privacy. It is, therefore, crucial to stay informed and vigilant to avoid falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam.
