DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA — What began as an innocent online business meeting quickly turned into an $80,000 nightmare for a North Carolina man after scammers tricked him into installing malicious software on his computer.
Kenneth Nicholson, a Durham resident and cryptocurrency investor, said he was approached on social media by someone who appeared to share his interest in crypto. The conversation, which spanned several days, seemed legitimate — until it ended with a devastating scam that emptied his entire crypto account.
“I started to create videos about cryptocurrency and even launch my own exchange,” Nicholson said. “It’s not unusual for people to contact me wanting to talk about crypto.”
The Setup: A Fake Business Meeting Invitation
Nicholson said the scammers lured him in with detailed conversations about blockchain technology and investment strategies. After several days of back-and-forth messages, they asked to set up a virtual meeting to discuss potential collaboration…