Scam victim

[Metallica]

I'm pretty proud of this one, so I'm gonna toot my own horn here:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-fitbit-scam-left-one-woman-broke-and-terrified
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/scams/2025/09/from-fitbit-to-financial-despair-how-one-woman-lost-her-life-savings-and-more-to-a-scammer

[Corrine]

That is the main reason why I only post to "Friends" on Facebook and avoid commenting on public posts by Facebook friends. 

[plodr]

My husband and I do not do any social media sites.

We both call the people we want to connect with.

[winchester73]

Pieter ... great article!

[Metallica]

Thank you!

[Metallica]

Question/Request: is anyone here familiar enough with US law enforcement to help Karen file a new police report. She did one years ago for fraud, but the threats with violence she is getting now would be a different case (in my mind).

Excample:
"You will not only be worried about losing your job but you will be served with the blood of your son to drink
I dare you not to make the payment then you will regret taking me for granted
$3000 and I will leave your life forever
I do not care what you think about this but you will not be able to handle what is coming
The investigator, institution and authorities will not save you, the rebels are everywhere and you are too small to stop it
If you want take this threats to the authorities or FBI but you will still lose your son before the end of this year, this is a fact if you don't make the payment "

If you are or know of anyone who can help het with this, please let me know.

PS I have reached out to 2 old friends who were active in law enforcement back when I knew them, but my emails and DMs are falling on def ears.

[Corrine]

That is most certainly the kind of threat that would scare a mother into complying.

I would think that part of the problem in catching the blackmailer is the method of payment.  If it is in person, police would have the chance of catching the person.  However, if it is electronic payment, the account was likely created with false identity so extremely difficult to trace.