Plymouth, Michigan

In 2025, Americans reportedly lost around $21 billion to cybercrime, with almost half of those crimes linked to cryptocurrencies, as stated by the FBI.

A local man from Plymouth shared his experience with Local 4, revealing he fell victim to a scam that cost him $37,000 after being coerced into depositing money into a Bitcoin ATM.

Stephen Cook recounted that the trouble began on March 20 when a message popped up on his laptop, warning him he was “in danger” and prompting him to call a number.

A woman, identifying herself as “Veronica J. Wilson,” told him his identity had been compromised and that Apple security had detected unsettling activities, even mentioning child pornography.

Cook said, “I’m literally screaming into the phone like this isn’t me.”

The caller went on to assert that a scammer had obtained access to his account and rattled off the beginning digits of his credit card.

“They started throwing out numbers—does it begin with 5, 3, 6? My wife, Heather, looked at the card and nodded, but we never provided the entire number,” Cook explained.

He mentioned that the woman called him back on what she said was a secure line, claiming his phone was compromised.

A second individual then joined the conversation, introducing himself as “Richard Lee” from Chase Bank.

This man claimed funds had been withdrawn from Cook’s account, suggesting there was a way to recover the money. Cook was advised to withdraw $37,000 and invest it in a Bitcoin ATM.

Bitcoin is a digital currency that operates online without government or banking oversight.

Despite his misgivings, Cook continued on the line. “There was a point when we did challenge him a bit, like, ‘Is this real?’

After making the initial deposit, he was urged to take out more money from another bank.

“I went to another bank, withdrew additional cash, and while sitting in my car still on the phone, they told me to go to yet another bank. At that moment, I thought, ‘Maybe I just lost $37,000,’” Cook recalled.

Ultimately, he decided against sending more funds.

“I hung up, drove home, and called Chase Bank directly using my work phone. That’s when I realized it was all a scam,” he said.

When he called back, the person on the line used a different name, which led to a heated response from him.

“As you might expect, I had a few choice words,” he remarked.

Sharing his story, Cook hopes to warn others, even if it feels somewhat embarrassing. “I might know more about this than your average person, but it really could happen to anyone,” he noted.

The FBI is advising people to “take a moment,” recognize warning signs, resist pressure, and think carefully before transferring money or sharing personal details.

The agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports receiving about 3,000 complaints daily.

Looking back, Cook believes a simple reboot could have saved him from the ordeal. “We spoke to an actual Apple rep, who said just turn it off and back on,” he shared. “It just makes you feel used.”

Cook reported the fraud to the Plymouth Police, the FTC, and reached out to Local 4.

Plymouth Police Chief Al Cox stated this type of scam is quite common, often preying on the elderly. He emphasized that scammers exploit urgency and emotions to push victims into hasty decisions.

If someone pressures you to send money immediately, Cox suggests pausing and reconsidering. “Slow down and think about it for a second,” he remarked.

He also cautioned against using numbers found in pop-ups or alerts, recommending that individuals look up official contact information and reach out directly.

Anyone suspecting they’ve fallen victim to a scam should contact the FBI at 313-965-2323 or submit a report online.