Florida Man Loses $317,000 in Elaborate Crypto Scam Amid Rising Fraud Cases
Authorities in Florida are sounding the alarm after a Daytona Beach Shores resident fell victim to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam, losing $317,000 to a fake investment platform. The case has uncovered at least 16 additional victims, with total losses exceeding $4 million.
The scheme began with an innocuous wrong-number text about dog-walking, which evolved into a months-long relationship built on WhatsApp and video calls. The perpetrator, posing as a woman named Astrid Orlov, gradually gained the victim's trust before introducing fraudulent crypto investment opportunities.
This incident highlights the growing sophistication of cryptocurrency scams, which often leverage social engineering tactics to bypass victims' skepticism. Law enforcement officials warn that such schemes are becoming increasingly common as digital assets gain mainstream adoption.
