An Instagram scam is preying on those that were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for their country. One Illinois veteran claims that a clever scam on social media swindled him out of thousands of dollars and is reminding people that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Aleem King was excited when he began receiving Instagram messages from a company called Primo Military Funds. In the middle of a job search, King was intrigued when the company claimed to offer him a work at home job. The fraudulent company told the veteran that they were looking to help veterans searching for employment. King knew the dangers of scams, so he was very skeptical at first. However, he began to trust the company once money started showing up in his account. Unfortunately, the lucrative funds began to stop.
“From what I was told, they were a new business, just trying to help veterans out. All I had to do was promote their company by talking to friends, King told KSDK. “If they gave me $5,000, they would ask me to send back $2,000 (through) Western Union that money to another person, they said it was for legal fees.”
Then, his own money started to disappear. King explains that more than $17,000 was withdrawn from his account and Primo Military Funds stopped all correspondence with him. He immediately went to the police, but there was really nothing they could do.
“I’m not much of a crier, but I cried a lot that week. It was very stressful,” King said. “This person knew I had a wife, knew I had a son, knew I had a baby on the way. They’re sick and twisted.”
The Better Business Bureau is issuing warning to social media users. Scammers are getting more creative in the way to reach their victims. Like this Instagram scam, many are lurking on various social media channels. The best advice to keep in mind is to not trust anyone. Never send money or financial information to someone that you have not corresponded with in person.
To help pay off the debt, King has began working three jobs. With a baby on the way, King is still unsure about his family’s future. A GoFundMe page has been set up for those that want to donate to his cause.
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