Oconomowoc woman loses $24K in Bitcoin scam
An Oconomowoc woman is sharing her story in hopes of warning others, after falling victim to a Bitcoin scam where she ended up losing $24,000.
The victim, 77-year-old Lee Ann Malec, lost nearly $24,000.
Malec was paying bills last week on her laptop when a message from Microsoft popped up. She called the telephone number on the screen for tech support.
Lee Ann Malec and Deanna Marincic
“[The scammer said] there’s someone in Chase Corporation that has gotten into your account,” she recalled. “They are planning to take your money.”
Investigators say Malec went inside a liquor store and stuffed hundred dollar bills into the machine. The con man took her for $23,800.
Malec’s daughter Deanna Marincic calls it “psychological kidnapping.”
“They read her,” Marincic said. “Her personality and anxiety.”
Malec is not alone.
Because cryptocurrency is unregulated, Malec is doubtful she’ll ever get her money back. But she said it’s not too late for others, which is why she’s sharing her story.
Police seized the cash from the cryptocurrency machine and are still investigating.
