Summary
An elderly man named Eddie Rushe from Lurgan, County Armagh, lost £35,000 due to cryptocurrency scams spread through fake AI-generated social media ads. The scam involved false endorsement from public figures and led to significant stress and health issues for Mr. Rushe. His son is seeking help from the Financial Ombudsman Service to recover the lost money.
Key Facts
- Eddie Rushe lost £35,000 in three different scams over 18 months.
- The scams used AI-generated ads on social media with fake endorsements by well-known figures.
- The scammers convinced Mr. Rushe to change bank accounts and buy new equipment for cryptocurrency transactions.
- After realizing he was scammed, Mr. Rushe suffered a stroke, which his son believes was stress-induced.
- Mr. Rushe was targeted two more times, losing an additional £20,000.
- His son, Michael, is working with the Financial Ombudsman Service to try to recover some of the lost money.
- The scams involved frequent phone calls and fake financial advisers to build trust.
- Mr. Rushe continues to receive scam calls but is now aware not to answer them.
