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It Started With a Simple Message
Rhane Thomas, seventy-four, had been using PayPal for years — buying gifts for her grandkids, paying small invoices, the usual. So when an email appeared saying her account had been compromised, she didn’t panic at first. It looked legitimate: the logo, the tone, the polite professionalism.
Then came a WhatsApp message. A man identifying himself as a PayPal fraud investigator said her account was being used for money laundering. He spoke calmly but firmly, using just enough technical jargon to sound credible.
“I’m calling to protect you,” he said. “But we have to act now.”
Thomas’s heart started to race. Money laundering? She wasn’t even sure what that meant exactly, but it sounded serious. The man explained that criminals were using her information, and if she didn’t cooperate, her accounts could be frozen — or worse, she could be charged.
He told her not to alert her bank, warning that they might think she was involved. He stayed on the phone as she drove to her first branch and withdrew part of her savings. Then, later, to another bank for the rest.
“He terrified me,” she said. “He made me afraid my information was being used for illegal purposes.”
The instructions grew more specific. She was told to take photos of the cash and receipts — “for verification,” he said — and then wrap the money in a cardboard box.
That’s when the story deepened.
A second man called, claiming to be a Social Security financial officer working with PayPal to “protect her funds.” He said they’d send someone to her home to collect the package and gave her a password — her favorite color: purple.
That small detail sealed her trust. How could he know that? (Scammers often pull favorite colors, pets, or birthdays from hacked emails, social media, or public records.)
That evening, a white Toyota pulled up outside her Sacramento home. The man who stepped out looked professional, calm, polite. He gave the password — “purple.” She handed him the box.
And just like that, her life savings — $28,000 — were gone.
It wasn’t until hours later, when the phone stopped ringing and no one returned her calls, that the reality sank in.
Thomas, a former bank teller, couldn’t believe it had happened to her. But these scams don’t rely on ignorance — they rely on fear, trust, and urgency.
“I thought I was protecting myself,” she said. “Instead, I was handing everything over to thieves.”
She filed a police report, but the chances of recovery are slim.
This story is based on reporting by CBS Sacramento. Full story can be found here.
Lessons Learned
The goal of this newsletter is to expose the tactics scammers use — so when they try them on you, you’ll recognize the red flags before it’s too late. Here are key takeaways from Rhane Thomas’s story to help you stay protected.
Secrecy is the scammer’s strongest weapon.
Anyone who tells you not to speak with your family, bank, or police is scamming you. Real investigators and financial institutions will never ask you to keep information secret.Watch for money movement requests.
If someone instructs you to visit multiple banks, buy gift cards, or use a Bitcoin ATM, it’s a scam. These methods make your money disappear instantly — and permanently.Always verify directly.
If you’re unsure someone is who they claim, hang up. Then contact the company yourself using the number on your card or the official website. Never trust a number given to you by the caller.Real agencies don’t need your help to move money.
No legitimate organization — not your bank, the FBI, the IRS, or any payment app — will ever ask you to transfer or “secure” your funds for them. If they say they do, it’s a scam.No one is immune.
Rhane was a former bank teller — smart, experienced, and financially savvy. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone. Scammers rely on fear and urgency, not intelligence.
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