The Norwegian pensioners thought they were going to receive millions from one of the world’s richest women. Instead, they were deceived by cynical deceivers.
After reading in VG about MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and one of the world’s richest women, two Norwegian pensioners tried via social media to get in touch with the American woman, in the hope that she would give money to them.
VG wrote January 7 this year about MacKenzie Scott (49) who in the past three years has donated an incredible NOK 144 billion to schools, universities, organizations and foundations.
A pensioner in his 70s from Trøndelag searched Instagram to find what he thought was the real MacKenzie Scott, and was asked to continue on WhatsApp.
– I wrote a begging letter because the expenses had become so large and heavy. She asked how much money I wanted, and I answered 200,000 dollars (two million kroner). She said this would be fine. I have been stupid and naive, the pensioner admits to VG.
Well-known fraud in the USA
A woman in her 70s from Western Norway came into contact with another fake MacKenzie Scott on Facebook, and was promised that she would receive three million kroner.
None of them knew that the American media has been warning for several years about criminals posing as the wealthy mother of four.
The special thing about the Norwegian cases is that this time it is not the fraudsters who have contacted random victims, but that the victims themselves have actively sought out the fraudsters.
Paid fee to get gift
For two and a half weeks in January, the pensioner was in daily contact with the fake Scott. The conversations took place through dozens of messages on WhatsApp every single day, a total of several hundred messages back and forth.
– I was told by “MacKenzie” that the money had to be paid out via a fund, and that she had already deposited $25,000 into an account for me.
The pensioner did as he was told, and paid a fee of 250 dollars (2,500 kroner) to have the money paid out.
He was then met with a new demand that it would cost a further NOK 15,000 to get the money.
Suggested taking out a loan
VG has seen the dialogue between the Norwegian pensioner and the fake billionaire. It is a good example of how the fraudsters work.
By alternating between flattery, promises, pressure and threats, the pensioner from Trøndelag is getting closer and closer to what he thinks is the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos. The two send each other greetings both morning and evening.
– She used my name all the time, so you feel that it becomes personal.
Along the way, the fake “MacKenzie Scott” also offers that the pensioner can become the head of an agricultural business she intends to start in Norway.
When the pensioner is unable to raise NOK 15,000 to get his million, the fake Scott suggests that the man can either sell something he owns, or take out a loan on his house.
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After the pensioner asks to get back the money he has already paid in, the mood suddenly turns much worse.
– She became very aggressive in her behaviour, says the man.
The fake billionaire mocks the Norwegian for wanting to quit, and asks him not to listen to those who advise him to quit.
Warned by the bank
The woman from Western Norway has been in contact with another fake “MacKenzie Scott”, who communicates in a different way to the fraudsters who have tricked the man from Trøndelag.
The woman was promised NOK three million from the fake Scott, in return for paying a fee of NOK 10,500. She was able to negotiate down the fee to 5,500, in exchange for the gift also being halved. After contacting VG, the pensioner realizes that she has been tricked by a fake Scott.
– The bank warned me, but I still thought that he who dares nothing wins nothing, and was about to pay. Now I realize that I have been deceived, and I am ashamed, says the woman to VG.
The man from Trøndelag realizes that the money has been lost. He says he will not report the fraud to the police for the sake of his family.
Explosive increase
Terje Aleksander Fjeldvær, who is head of fraud prevention work at DNB, says that the use of fake profiles has become very common, and is used on a large scale for all types of fraud.
– The fraudsters combine their entire toolbox, and play on more than just a single method to fool people. It is about the victim gaining trust in a person. If you start looking for someone who wants to give money away, you can quickly end up in a bar with someone who has dishonest intentions, says Fjeldvær.
He reminds us that digital information is very easy to falsify.
– The forgery can look completely genuine, but then you have to assess whether the content is natural. In this case, I would consider that it is not natural that one can make direct contact with one of the world’s richest women via social media, and expect her to hand out money in this way.
Fjeldvær says that there has been an explosive increase in digital fraud in recent years. From 2020 to 2021 alone, DNB reported an increase of 66 per cent. In the previous years, from 2018 to 2020, the increase was no less than 300 percent.
The pensioner in Trøndelag has realized that the money has been lost, but is glad that he did not pay in more.
– Everyone has a dream of having money in the bank and financial freedom in their old days. I know I have been stupid and naive. I want to warn others not to do the same as me, says the pensioner.
