‘Dig Deeper’: Newport Woman Falls Victim to $5,000 Scam
NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE) — A Newport woman, Stephanie Clark, has been swindled out of $5,000 after falling prey to a deceptive work-from-home scam. Seeking remote employment, Clark responded to an online recruiting service, leading her to a text offering a job that turned out to be fraudulent.
The scam involved a convoluted compensation structure where Clark was instructed to make cryptocurrency payments to supposedly increase her earnings. The payments were made using her Cash App account, as she aimed to earn some extra money from home.
Clark believed she was on a successful path. For three weeks, she worked remotely, performing a straightforward task—repeatedly clicking a button to provide positive responses for products, a practice known as “optimizing” a service in the online sphere. She thought she was engaging with a legitimate business, believing she was communicating with someone named Taylor Scott from Wix, a popular website-building platform.
“I was supposed to earn a commission, starting with $100 after two days and $400 after four days,” Clark explained. “The payments were handled through CashApp and Bitcoin.”
Clark was misled to believe that Wix conducted transactions via Bitcoin due to its global clientele. She initially saw her virtual wallet flourishing, at one point reaching $2,000.
“My wallet was growing,” Clark recalled, showcasing transfers made to the scammer. The thieves cunningly claimed that the money she transferred would be refunded, creating the illusion that she had purchased a product.
“While reviewing a product, the money in your wallet would cover the price,” Clark noted.
As she continued to send money to Taylor Scott, her personal account dwindled. Eventually, she reached a point where she couldn’t transfer any more funds. When she reached out to Taylor for a refund, the response was alarming: “Find another family member or loan option to complete the set.” This message was a wake-up call for Clark, revealing the true nature of the scam.
In total, Clark lost $5,060 to the fraudulent scheme. The FBI and Wix have issued warnings about work-from-home scams that require upfront cryptocurrency payments.
“My advice is to dig deeper. These companies create fake websites and impersonate trusted entities, leading unsuspecting individuals to lose money,” Clark cautioned.
She reported the scam to Wix Support, which responded by stating that it is actively working to eliminate the impersonator to prevent further victimization. Scammers often exploit the reputable name of companies like Wix, using fake websites and misleading messages to deceive potential victims. Clark also reported the scam to the FBI for further investigation.