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00:00Ashton Bingham
00:10My name is Ashton Bingham.
00:11About 10 years ago, I received a call from a scammer.
00:14And I got annoyed, so I decided to film it.
00:20You can't think of something more convincing
00:22than for me to pay off my IRS debt with a Target gift card?
00:25And the video blew up.
00:27That's when I turned to my Russian friend Art Kulik
00:29and I said, hey, let's turn this into a business
00:32and start a YouTube channel tormenting scammers.
00:34And I said, tormenting scammers?
00:37That sounds fun. Sign me up.
00:39Here we go. Refreshing.
00:44So we amassed millions of subscribers
00:46and devoted our lives to turning the tables on scammers everywhere.
00:50What are you looking for here?
00:51Why are you running if you're not doing anything wrong?
00:53We're not.
00:54Why are you running?
00:55Scammer!
00:56And we've helped shut down some pretty big scam operations.
01:01Then people around the country started reaching out to us
01:04with their own stories of getting scammed.
01:06So how much did they get from you?
01:09Almost $53,000.
01:11Over two.
01:12Over two million.
01:13Yeah.
01:14And the voices of the victims made one thing clear.
01:16We needed help.
01:17Now we've assembled an elite team of technological experts
01:21we call the Revengers
01:23to help us trick scammers into revealing their identities
01:26and catching them red-handed.
01:28Together, we are hunting down scammers,
01:31wherever they hide.
01:32Unlock it!
01:33And bringing justice to our victims.
01:35Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
01:37You will be tased if you don't get down.
01:40What's going on?
01:41Get on your face!
01:43This is Scammed Getting Even.
01:54Hey guys.
01:55Jeffy, what do you got for us?
01:57So I got a phone call from the service department
02:00in Baxter County, Arkansas.
02:03I've got two victims out there.
02:05Both of them are in their 80s.
02:07Both of their names are Barbara.
02:09And both of them have been scammed by a pop-up scammer.
02:12Oh no.
02:13They're being hit hard.
02:17Baxter County, Arkansas.
02:19A rural area in the Ozark Mountains.
02:21Just four weeks ago, we worked with law enforcement there
02:24and we got two cash mules arrested in a refund scam.
02:27Man on foot. Man on foot.
02:29This is for the PayPal.
02:31Yes, sir.
02:32Go, go, go, go, go.
02:33Get on your face!
02:34Get on your face!
02:38Now, we all know you can get scammed at any age,
02:41but Baxter County is being targeted
02:42by a high volume of scammers.
02:44And I think it's because it's what I call
02:46a 70 over 70 community.
02:48Meaning 70% of the population is 70 years plus.
02:51Like the Barbaras, two women in their 80s
02:55who got hit with a pop-up scam.
02:59A pop-up scam is when a fake pop-up window
03:01appears on your computer,
03:03often mimicking an error or virus notification.
03:06At which point a phone number is provided,
03:09leading each victim directly into a trap with the scammer.
03:12Let's get on a call.
03:13Let's set it up.
03:14I'd love to meet the Barbaras
03:16and hit the ground running.
03:17This is a great lead.
03:18Right.
03:18So we'll set up meetings with law enforcement.
03:20We'll set up meetings with the victims
03:22and let's get you guys to Arkansas.
03:24Let's go.
03:25With two victims that Chappie reported
03:30having been hit really hard,
03:32we need to begin by learning how much has been lost
03:35and how the Barbaras got scammed.
03:42Hello.
03:43Barbara, nice to meet you.
03:45How are you?
03:46Hanging in there.
03:47Thank you guys for doing this
03:48and sorry that we're meeting under these circumstances.
03:51Who's with you?
03:52Paula Callender, my granddaughter.
03:54Nice to meet you, Paula.
03:55Paula, nice to meet you.
03:56I really never share my story with anybody.
03:59You are actually braver than 99% of people
04:02that have ever fallen for this scam
04:03because most people don't want to talk about it.
04:04The fact that you're stepping up right now
04:06and even telling us what's going on
04:07is extremely brave and it's admirable
04:09and it's going to save a lot of people.
04:10That's what I'm trying to do.
04:14Barbara, it's lovely to meet you.
04:15Well, thank you for taking the time
04:18and letting me tell my story.
04:20I grew up an Iowa farm girl,
04:23married a farm boy,
04:25had two children.
04:26I'm not sure where you are,
04:27but Iowa winters get pretty brutal.
04:29So we came down here in Arkansas.
04:32I've been a widow now for 14 years.
04:36I was born in Chicago, Illinois.
04:39Family is everything.
04:41It always has been.
04:42My whole life was for my kids.
04:44I was a homicide detective for the city and the FBI.
04:51I also had a lot of disguises.
04:53I did.
04:54I impersonated everything from a street walker
04:56to somebody who lived on the Gold Coast.
04:59I put in 23 years.
05:01Holy crap.
05:03As we gather information from both Barbaras,
05:06Barbara Klein and Barbara Kearns,
05:08we need to find out how these scammers
05:10were able to target them.
05:11The fact that Barbara Klein was a homicide detective
05:16in Chicago in the 60s
05:18and was still manipulated
05:20suggests to me we're dealing with professional criminals.
05:24If you wouldn't mind maybe just taking us
05:26from the beginning of what happened.
05:27I thought I would go to the computer
05:29and I turned it on
05:30and the screen just turned fiery red,
05:33sirens and alarms.
05:35It scared me to death.
05:38Across the screen it said,
05:40call Microsoft.
05:42We can help you.
05:44So I went onto the web
05:46and the next thing I know
05:47a big screen came down.
05:51At the top of it said Microsoft.
05:53It said, call this number
05:56and we will help you.
05:58So I did
05:59and whoever answered
06:01told me
06:02our bank was hacked.
06:04They had taken
06:05$4,765
06:07out of my account that morning.
06:11What does this guy call himself?
06:12He was James Reyes.
06:14He said he was from
06:16the Federal Trade Commission.
06:18What was the name of the person
06:19you talked to, Barbara?
06:20Jack Chen
06:22and he told me
06:24he was an employee
06:25of Microsoft Corporation
06:28out of Redmond,
06:30Washington
06:31with the identity
06:32theft department.
06:34He had told me
06:36that I was being hacked
06:38and that they were
06:39trying to get into my
06:41checking account
06:43and he said
06:44your funds are possibly
06:45$33,000
06:47are not safe.
06:48He said you must get that money
06:50out of the bank.
06:52Okay, so the scammers are using
06:55different names
06:56and titles.
06:57One says he works
06:58for Microsoft's fraud
06:59department
07:00while the other scammer
07:01says he works with the FTC.
07:02FTC stands for
07:04Federal Trade Commission
07:06a federal agency
07:07that protects
07:08people from fraud.
07:09Despite the differences
07:10both scammers
07:11told each Barbara
07:12that their bank accounts
07:13were being hacked
07:14and they needed to get
07:15the rest of their money
07:16out or they could
07:17lose their entire savings.
07:18I got talked
07:21into wiring funds
07:22to an account
07:23so I could get
07:24that money back.
07:25Can you explain
07:26a little more of like
07:27what they were telling you
07:28was the reason
07:29you had to wire the money?
07:30They said
07:31the federal government
07:32sets up a safe
07:34secure account
07:36for me.
07:37Nobody could touch it.
07:38You know,
07:39and then I ended up
07:41taking my savings
07:42out of two different banks.
07:44How much did you wire?
07:45$16,180
07:47That was their savings.
07:50We don't have
07:51much more than that.
07:53He said
07:54you must get
07:55that money
07:56out of the bank
07:57and he said
07:58bring the cash home
08:00and then the Federal Reserve
08:01would be there
08:02to pick it up
08:03and it would be secure
08:05and when everything
08:06when this was all settled
08:07I would get
08:08all that money back
08:09so I thought
08:10I could trust him.
08:11Since it was
08:12the Federal Trade Commission
08:14supposedly
08:15you know
08:17I'm like
08:17it's got to be okay.
08:19When I would question him
08:20he'd say
08:21well
08:21you asked us for help
08:23that's what I'm trying to do.
08:25I went to the bank
08:26to withdraw $33,000.
08:29I handed him
08:31the package of money
08:32he smiled at me
08:33he said
08:34thank you
08:35and took off.
08:37I haven't heard
08:39from him since.
08:40It wasn't until
08:42they were supposed
08:43to send
08:44my monies back
08:46and I was supposed
08:47to be delivered
08:47by FedEx
08:48and
08:49anyway
08:50it's gone.
08:52I'm going to be
08:5388 November
08:54I have a husband here
08:56who has Alzheimer's
08:57so I'm under a lot
08:58of pressure
08:59you know
08:59and I blame myself
09:00so.
09:01I'm an 87 year old
09:04widow lady
09:05and it was my life savings
09:07I had
09:07he left me with my social security
09:10and that was all.
09:11So Barbara Klein
09:13sent the $16,000
09:15she lost
09:16through two wire transfers
09:18and Barbara Kearns
09:19gave her $33,000 savings
09:22directly to a cashmule
09:24which is practically untraceable
09:25and the preferred method
09:27scammers use to steal
09:28from their victims.
09:28The Barbaras were preyed upon
09:32with a computer virus
09:33and their fear
09:34of losing everything
09:35led them directly
09:36into the scammers trap.
09:37Unfortunately
09:38this is a common scam.
09:40In our experience
09:41they almost always
09:42originate out of
09:43massive call centers
09:44in India.
09:45Scammers there
09:46are highly organized
09:47and relentlessly
09:48pursue their targets.
09:49We'd recommend
09:50that you get some
09:50antivirus software
09:51set up on the system.
09:52This is Surfshark
09:53antivirus
09:54it provides real-time
09:55protection from malware
09:56malicious web traffic
09:57and it's something
09:58that's going to protect
09:59you from this happening
10:00again going forward.
10:01We want to protect
10:02you on every single level.
10:04Me and Nash
10:05and our team
10:05we're going to come
10:06we're going to spend
10:07time with you
10:08we would love to meet
10:08you guys in person
10:09and we will do
10:10whatever it takes
10:11to find bad guys
10:12arrest them
10:13confront them
10:14you guys hang there
10:15okay?
10:16Okay
10:17God bless you.
10:18We got some plans
10:19we got some ideas
10:20and we want to come
10:20see you
10:21work to bring these guys
10:22to justice
10:23what do you think?
10:23Very good
10:24very good.
10:25What the hell is going on in Mountain Home?
10:32It's frustrating to hear the same triggers each time
10:36like
10:36but with both of their stories
10:38the scammers said
10:39your money's not safe
10:41like
10:41there's hackers
10:42it's an elderly community
10:43yeah
10:44and you can do exactly the same scam
10:46to every single elderly person
10:48and it as we can see unfortunately it work as a charm
10:50yeah
10:51let's go pack
10:56Cash mules steal millions of dollars a year from American victims
11:00it's often very difficult to stop the actual call centers
11:03and scammers responsible right off the bat
11:06but we can attempt to arrest the cash mules they sent
11:09to steal money from people like the Barbaras
11:12and get them some justice
11:14so
11:15that's where we're gonna jump in
11:21why is it Kansas but it's not our Kansas
11:24you know what I mean?
11:25well fun fact about the name of Arkansas
11:27it's also illegal to mispronounce Arkansas
11:30so I just committed a crime
11:31wow
11:32you're lucky that he's no rats on our team
11:34it's illegal to mispronounce something
11:36dude you're screwed
11:37when we were here a few weeks ago
11:43we worked with Baxter County law enforcement
11:45to arrest a cash mule
11:47so we still have
11:48investigator Bryce Hinson
11:50and an abandoned property
11:52at our disposal
11:53for this operation
11:55all right Barbara
11:56Klein
11:57we're on our way to see her
11:59let's go
12:00sit down listen and collect
12:01every single evidence that she has
12:03yeah let's do it
12:04we're about to meet the first of our two victims
12:07Barbara Klein
12:08since she was a detective
12:10we're hoping she has information
12:11that can help us
12:12track down the criminal
12:13who took her for her 16 grand
12:21what was the moment when you realized
12:23what caused you to realize
12:24it was a scam for sure
12:25he said about 5 or 6 o'clock
12:27we're going to be able to send you
12:29that money from that secured account
12:31and of course
12:32it got to be evening
12:34and nothing happened
12:35I said oh my word
12:38I've really fell into something
12:40I called the police
12:42and I made a report
12:44and he said oh honey
12:45you've been scammed
12:46I said no kidding
12:47Paula what was your conversation
12:51with Barbara
12:53when she called you
12:54and she said listen
12:55I think I got scammed
12:56at first I was honestly
12:58I was kind of frustrated with her
13:00you know I'm like
13:01why why did you do that
13:02why did you not call me
13:03you know
13:04right
13:05but you know
13:06having them
13:07hurt and watching them
13:09everything they've saved up
13:10you know
13:11be taken from them
13:12it's not fair
13:14and my husband
13:17he doesn't think right
13:18with Alzheimer's
13:19I'm not sure
13:20he even realizes
13:21what's going on
13:22it makes me mad
13:24that people would even
13:25do this to another
13:26human being period
13:27what do you have
13:30evidence-wise
13:31what can we take a look at
13:32what I did
13:33is I have a habit
13:34maybe it's from years ago
13:36when I was a police woman
13:37you always take notes
13:39so I started right
13:40from the beginning
13:41the name of the man
13:42the number he gave me
13:44let's hone in
13:45on the wire transfers
13:46okay
13:47where was the first one
13:48the first one
13:49went to Kenya
13:50okay
13:51the fact that Barbara
13:52had the foresight
13:53to take detailed notes
13:55documenting names
13:56numbers
13:57addresses
13:58and wire transfer
13:59information
14:00is huge
14:01it's so good
14:02that you have this
14:02this is really helpful
14:03this is unbelievable
14:04this could shave
14:05weeks of our investigation
14:06allowing us
14:07to hit the ground running
14:08and start scambating
14:09with our team
14:10so this is Mississippi
14:12beneficiary name
14:13oh it's an LLC
14:14Kraft LLC
14:18we haven't had the evidence
14:19for more than two minutes
14:20and we already see
14:21two separate wires
14:23made by Barbara
14:24to a Kenya
14:25totaling $10,000
14:27and another sent to
14:29Kraft LLC
14:31for $6,000
14:33what we need to find out is
14:34who is Kenya
14:36what is Kraft LLC
14:38and is this case
14:39connected
14:40with our other victim
14:41we have a team
14:42of scam baiters
14:43that are going to be
14:44calling these numbers
14:4524-7
14:46in collaboration
14:47with your police
14:48and bait these scammers
14:49into thinking
14:50they're going to have
14:51another take here
14:52at Mountain Home
14:53we're going to make
14:54these scammers afraid
14:55to ever come to Mountain Home
14:56ever again
14:57and thank you
14:58for thanking both of you
14:59and all of you
15:00for doing this
15:01you spent decades
15:02helping your community
15:03get even
15:04right
15:05it's our turn
15:06to help you get even
15:07our first victim
15:10Barbara Klein
15:11sent wire transfers
15:13that emptied her savings
15:14Barbara Kearns
15:16the next victim
15:17we will speak with
15:18had a cash mule
15:19physically show up
15:20at her house
15:21where they collected
15:22or stole rather
15:24over 30 grand
15:25in cash
15:26what we need to find out
15:28is
15:29how did her scammer
15:30convince her to do this
15:33in the beginning of this
15:34I said Jack
15:35how do I know
15:36I can trust you
15:37I'm going to be 87 years old
15:39in a few weeks
15:40I'm a widow
15:41and I said
15:42this is my life savings
15:44I don't have a good feeling
15:46about this
15:47he interrupted me
15:49he said
15:50you're old enough
15:51to be my grandma
15:53he said
15:54I lost my grandma
15:55during the COVID
15:56and I miss her so much
15:58I will do nothing
15:59to hurt you
16:00you can trust me
16:01and he said
16:02I can show you my profile
16:06under his picture
16:07it had Jack Chan
16:09employed by Microsoft
16:11identity theft department
16:14and I thought
16:15it's authentic
16:19he said
16:20I could tell
16:21no one
16:24so he's gaining your trust
16:25by making you question
16:26everyone that you actually trust
16:27yes
16:28obviously trust
16:29is a big issue here
16:30after being scammed
16:32Barbara doesn't know
16:33who she can rely on
16:34so that's why
16:35she's accompanied by her pastor
16:36Mike Clark
16:37he's been vital
16:38as he and his wife
16:39Jan
16:40have been the people
16:41that helped her come forward
16:42about her scam
16:43he also got the sheriff
16:44involved
16:45who initially contacted
16:46chopping
16:47oh I just
16:48it was devastating
16:49being a scam
16:50I knew
16:51that Barb had to have somebody
16:52to protect her
16:53she didn't understand
16:54the psychology
16:55that this guy was working
16:56what a violation
16:57that must feel
16:58especially to know
16:59it's such a small community
17:00when they're physically
17:01showing up to your front door
17:02and that was the other thing
17:03I just felt
17:04really terrible
17:05that Barb was violated
17:06in such a way
17:07and that's the thing
17:08that I'm concerned about
17:09here in our community
17:10okay
17:11Barbara's scammer
17:12is experienced
17:13he hits her
17:14from two angles
17:15on a personal level
17:16making her feel empathy
17:17for the supposed loss
17:18of his granny
17:20and secondly
17:21fabricating a work profile
17:23to appear legitimate
17:24and with him telling her
17:26not to speak
17:27to her family
17:28she never stood a chance
17:30then he started in
17:33he said
17:34Mrs. Kearns
17:35do you have another account?
17:36I have no idea
17:38how he would know that
17:39but he did
17:41and he said
17:42and someone
17:43is trying to get
17:44into that account
17:45it's about $38,000
17:48so there was
17:49two cash pickups
17:50the grand total
17:51was what
17:52$65,000
17:53$70,000
17:54$71,000
17:55$71,000
17:56one was $38,000
17:57and one was $33,000
18:00okay
18:01so Barbara
18:02didn't just empty
18:03one account
18:04she emptied
18:05both of her savings accounts
18:07it's absolutely
18:08heartbreaking
18:09her life savings
18:10just completely gone
18:12where in there did you realize
18:16that you were scammed?
18:18it was a week later
18:20and I did not hear from Jack
18:22and I didn't get my letter of authenticity
18:25saying that it was deposited
18:27I had the feeling
18:29that I was not
18:30going to see that money
18:31again
18:32and then on Sunday
18:34I saw my friend
18:36Jan in church
18:37first thing
18:38and I said
18:39Jan I'm in trouble
18:40and I need to talk to you and Mike
18:43and she said
18:44we will be over
18:45this afternoon
18:46and that's when we got involved
18:47yeah
18:48they came to my home
18:49Sunday afternoon
18:50and I told them my story
18:53what was going through your mind
18:54the first time you heard all this?
18:56well
18:57it was just really hard
18:58because
18:59you know
19:00here she is
19:01with her life savings
19:02and that is what she has to live on
19:04and this was taken away
19:05instantly
19:06a lot of anger
19:08you know
19:09because of
19:10the fact that he was doing this
19:11to a friend
19:13but we knew we had to get to work on it
19:16and get things straightened out
19:17Mike
19:18he called the sheriff
19:20he advised me to
19:22not to have any further conversations with Jack
19:26I didn't
19:27I haven't talked to him since
19:28good
19:29I told her she needed to let her family know
19:30right away
19:31and I did
19:32that afternoon
19:33how did that go?
19:34I think they were shocked
19:36to know in that
19:38their mom would fall for this
19:40but my son says
19:41mom
19:42it's done
19:43it's in the past
19:44we can't go back
19:46so we have to go forward
19:48I am so thankful for people like Mike
19:50and his wife Jan
19:51because without them
19:52Barbara wouldn't have gone to the police
19:54scam victims need that kind of support system
19:57Barbara we have a plan
19:59it's called scam baiting
20:00we are baiting the scammer into our trap
20:03we have a whole team of revengers we call them
20:05and we basically bait them into doing exactly what they did to you
20:09sending a courier to pick up what they're expecting to be a large amount of cash
20:14except they're not going to get any cash
20:16they're going to get a police officer in handcuffs
20:18wonderful
20:19did you happen to save any information?
20:22didn't you get a letter of authenticity?
20:25I've got the letter from
20:26get that out
20:27and you get that little notepad that you have all those dates and stuff
20:30that will be so helpful
20:31we have rats to catch
20:33we have a lot of work to do
20:34so we're grateful for your bravery
20:36and Pastor Mike
20:37thank you
20:38thank you
20:39thanks for being her champion
20:40yeah
20:46alright let's go through and figure out a rough timeline of both of these scams
20:52what we know so far
20:54both Barbaras got a pop-up virus on their computer
20:58all the scammer needed was for them to be connected to the internet
21:01and the virus window took over their screen
21:03they then called a phone number provided
21:05and unbeknownst to them got connected with the scammer
21:08they were told their savings accounts were being hacked
21:11and that you must deposit the rest of your money into our safe account with FTC
21:16the scammer claimed to work with Microsoft
21:18and that the Social Security Administration would send them the confirmation of their protected funds
21:24it's confusing and doesn't really add up
21:27but out of fear they sent their life savings
21:30and now it's all gone
21:33what we need to find out is
21:35who really did this
21:36are these cases connected
21:38and how can we start scam baiting
21:41with Barbara Kearns
21:43in two and a half months
21:45she lost $71,000
21:47I found only one number in her nose
21:50which is fake social security
21:52this is the only handwritten note
21:53yeah
21:54that's Jack Chan
21:56Jack Chan
21:58Jack Chan was the person
21:59when she called this pop-up number
22:01Microsoft
22:02social security administration
22:03there is a
22:04there is a number right there
22:05there is a number right here
22:06564
22:07that's the number that we need to give to our scam baiters
22:09to call this fake social security administration office
22:12they use the real social security administration letterhead
22:16and then they just fill it in with all their
22:18whatever they need
22:19bull crap
22:20mhm
22:21alright let's move on to Barbara Klein
22:22she took down notes of everything which is great
22:25Barbara Klein did two wire transfers
22:28right
22:29so this is the first wire transfer
22:30$6,000 from Barbara Klein
22:33to
22:35craft LLC
22:37$10,130 more dollars
22:40the same day
22:412.37pm
22:42but this time it didn't go to an LLC
22:44it went to a person
22:45to a lady named Kenya
22:47I would like to do a quick search
22:49what I want to find out
22:50who
22:51Kenya is
22:54Kenya
22:5545 years old
22:57Gulfport
22:58Mississippi
23:01what is this smirk on your face?
23:03say it
23:04you know where she works?
23:05don't tell me social security
23:06the social security administration
23:08she's a customer service representative
23:11of the social security administration
23:12okay here's the deal
23:14Barbara Klein
23:15Barbara Klein
23:16our first victim
23:17who sent two wires for $16,000
23:19sent money to one
23:21Kenya
23:22Kenya
23:23if it is actually her
23:24receiving the money
23:25is an employee
23:26for the social security office in Mississippi
23:28our second victim
23:30Barbara Kearns
23:31has fraudulent documents
23:32from these same offices
23:34a coincidence?
23:35I think not
23:36this connection is a strong indication
23:38that the same scammer
23:39is targeting both Barbaras
23:41and based off our findings
23:43the scammer is very likely
23:45impersonating
23:46Kenya
23:47a government employee
23:48she's an official
23:50and a believable mask
23:51for the scammer
23:52to hide behind
23:53what other coincidence?
23:56two Barbaras
23:57same scam
23:58pop-pop
23:59from what we can see
24:00in these documents
24:01I see every indication
24:02that both of these Barbaras
24:04were scammed by the same group of people
24:05most likely from a call center in India
24:07with a case like this
24:09in a town like Mountain Home, Arkansas
24:11that has been hit hard by scammers
24:13we want to solve it as fast as possible
24:15so we're calling on
24:16three of our faithful revengers
24:18who actually helped us scam bait
24:20at this bait house before
24:21Chappie Gray
24:23who keeps her identity a secret
24:25for security reasons
24:26first introduced us to the Barbaras
24:28if you want it
24:29you can come pick it up
24:30it's that simple
24:31her partner Bull Raxon
24:32how much am I wire transferring?
24:3425,000?
24:35and Dayo
24:36our Canadian crime sleuth
24:38who like me
24:39adopts different characters
24:40I'm Chico
24:41I'm Chico
24:43we worked with them for years
24:45and need them now
24:47more than ever
24:48to help the Barbaras
24:49Chappie Gray, Dayo
24:52good morning guys
24:53thank you for joining us
24:54right now we are sitting
24:55in Mountain Home, Arkansas
24:56we just met with two victims
24:58both of which are named Barbara
25:00they were both hit by the Microsoft
25:02pop-up scam
25:03got scammed by the same call center
25:05and the same type of scam
25:06and what we want to do is take all of these phone numbers
25:09get you guys on the phone with them
25:11in collaboration with the Baxter County Sheriff
25:13they're going to arrest these people
25:15right now so I'm thinking
25:16the best way to get them to go there
25:18would be to fast track the scam
25:20so try to get some names of some of the scammers that are in there
25:23so then I can call
25:25pretending that I already have the money
25:27and saying I spoke to said scammers
25:29he told me that someone's going to come pick the money up
25:32that's a great way
25:33since it's a numbers game the more we can do
25:36I think if you and Ash are doing the fast track
25:39that you'll know real quickly if it's not a go
25:41you can move on to the next one
25:43we have tons of numbers
25:44let's make some noise here that they won't forget
25:46and we'll make this happen
25:47yep, we're ready to go
25:48normally to infiltrate a call center
25:51it takes days, weeks even
25:54well the time is now for Mountain Home
25:56so we don't have time to waste
25:58so to embed within 24 hours
26:01Dale and Chappie are going to call into the scammers
26:04pretending they've already spoken
26:06and while they start scam baiting
26:08we need to meet with the county sheriff
26:10and get the ball rolling on the bait house
26:12we used the same house to make an arrest four weeks ago
26:15but since it was a different scam organization
26:17the address won't be a red flag to our current scammers
26:21we could have a cash mule as early as tomorrow
26:24so we need to get things moving
26:29thank you sir
26:30thank you sir
26:31how are you doing?
26:32thank you
26:33all right
26:35good morning
26:36good morning
26:37glad you all could be here
26:38this is Art and Ashton
26:39and what they do
26:41their expertise is to catch the scammers
26:43that we're going to get here
26:45and we're hopefully going to get them arrested
26:47yeah, so with this particular scam
26:49in this case Microsoft
26:51who they're impersonating
26:52convincing the victim
26:53that they have either some kind of problem with their computer
26:55some kind of problem with their bank
26:56they're being hacked
26:58their identity's been stolen
26:59they make them believe that
27:00you know, that they're going to lose everything
27:02so that's where we come in
27:03we take the phone numbers
27:04people that they interacted with
27:06and basically we interact with them
27:08as though we were victims as well
27:10we're going to plant GoPros, cameras
27:13we're going to do 360 view
27:15every single car getting in and out
27:17from this neighborhood
27:18the house, front door, back door, porch
27:20and specifically the exchange
27:23between Cashmule and Ashton
27:26you just do whatever you need to do
27:28to make that transaction
27:30we'll have enough undercover vehicles close by
27:32and we can get the bad guy
27:34if you will
27:35in cuffs quickly
27:36what I'm hoping
27:37when this is all said and done
27:38is when they hear the zip code
27:40you know
27:41we're not coming there
27:43thank you for being connected with a customer support
27:56how can you help you?
28:01yes hi, is Andrew there?
28:03yes
28:04I went to the bank
28:09and uh
28:11I have
28:12the $30,000
28:14and I have it here now
28:15from Microsoft
28:16because you told me
28:18that I might have
28:19a virus or hackers
28:21alright
28:23so are you coming to pick it up?
28:25you have the $40,000?
28:27yes I have it here
28:28and I would
28:29prefer if someone came to pick it up
28:31yes sir
28:35let me know
28:36what was your zip code?
28:376
28:38yes
28:392
28:406
28:415
28:424
28:43Mountain Home
28:44Arkansas
28:45we are going to send you our man
28:46to collect those manis
28:47ok?
28:48ok
28:49so they're coming tomorrow
28:50or today?
28:51today
28:52today
28:53it might be take an hour
28:54alright
28:55uh
28:56ok
28:57bye bye
28:59ok we just got one
29:00that's crazy
29:01that's crazy
29:02I mean he said
29:03I think you heard me right
29:04he said 3 o'clock 315
29:05is when the guy will get there
29:07so right now it's like 2 o
29:092 15
29:10it's 2 15 right now
29:11yeah
29:12there's like a cop
29:13inside the garage
29:14if we have to whip it open
29:15but the place is surrounded
29:16ok I'll keep you posted
29:17ok
29:18ok
29:23so
29:24last time we baited at this house
29:25we were accompanied by
29:26investigator Bryce Hinson
29:28and supported by Baxter County
29:29law enforcement
29:30this time
29:31will be no different
29:32but every single case is unique
29:34we have 2 victims
29:36both named Barbara
29:37and both likely scammed
29:38by the same scam organization
29:40for nearly
29:41$100,000 total
29:44Chappie connected us with the victims
29:46and Deo
29:47was able to arrange
29:48for a cashmule to arrive
29:49now that I'm boots on the ground
29:51I'm picking up the conversation
29:53with the scammer
29:54from here on out
29:55wait
29:56wait
29:57wait
29:58wait
29:59wait
30:00wait
30:01wait
30:02whoa
30:03yes
30:04this is
30:05Andrew
30:06Ferguson
30:07the password
30:09STC
30:11agent number 3
30:12where are you at this moment
30:13are you inside your house?
30:14yeah
30:15This scam group has stolen all the barbers' life savings and has violated their lives.
30:27If we don't get an arrest, we're back at square one in regaining justice for them.
30:32That cannot happen.
30:36Scammer Andrew Ferguson, or as he calls himself, Ferguson, is saying that the FTC agent is
30:43approaching and he wants the house address.
30:46Am I good to drop the address for the house?
30:48Of course.
30:49Yeah?
30:50Do it.
30:50Let's go.
30:51Let's go.
30:51All right.
30:52Yeah, it's time to go.
30:53Yeah.
30:53Come on, old man.
30:56While I gear up as the victim, a 94-year-old elderly man named Felix Fleming.
31:01That's what I'm going to do.
31:03Eli is monitoring the street for any activity.
31:05White SUV.
31:07As is Baxter County law enforcement.
31:10All right.
31:11Cash.
31:11Cash.
31:12Okay.
31:13And the rules of the game are simple.
31:15We have some fake cash we'll put in the box and we have a password.
31:19FTC agent number three.
31:21If our mule knows that information, we know we have the right guy and we can engage law enforcement.
31:28Okay, he's calling me.
31:30Quiet, quiet, quiet.
31:31Quiet.
31:32Scammer's calling.
31:35Yes, can you hear me?
31:36Yeah.
31:37Okay, so are you in your house now?
31:39You can go outside.
31:40Why?
31:42Why, you want me to go outside now?
31:44Yes.
31:45I, I, I, there will be outside of your house.
31:48Okay?
31:51Okay, once, once you're outside, just say hello to me.
31:53Okay?
31:54Do not disconnect the line.
31:55I need you to stay connected with me, all right?
31:57I, I, I, I, I, I'm standing outside now.
32:04Did you see any car nearby your house?
32:06Oh, there's...
32:07What kind of, what kind of car?
32:10I mean, you see me one.
32:11Yeah.
32:13We can't.
32:14Yeah, yeah.
32:15All right, there's a red car coming down.
32:17Yeah.
32:17Red car is...
32:19No, neighbor.
32:20Neighbor.
32:20I saw it.
32:21A red, a bigger car.
32:24Going red.
32:25Oh, we got a Mazda coming in.
32:27Black Mazda.
32:28Left side.
32:30Coming in now.
32:33Yep, he's staring at Ashton.
32:35He seems to be waving to Ashton.
32:40Ashton just waved to him.
32:42Do you see a black color Mazda car?
32:43Yeah, a black Mazda.
32:45Yeah, it just went around the corner here.
32:48Go in front of the car, okay?
32:50And ask them the password.
32:52And when I told you handle the package,
32:55then only give it to him, okay?
32:56Just ask them the password first of all.
32:58I'll be on the line with you.
32:59Yeah.
33:00Do you want me to walk towards him or what?
33:04This mule wants me to meet him at his car
33:06instead of him meeting me at the front door,
33:09which could mean a potential car chase.
33:13I don't think he's going to get out of the car, guys.
33:14I think he's going to stay in the car.
33:16We have investigator Bryce Hinson and his squad car in our garage,
33:20so I'm buying as much time as possible to prepare.
33:24Hello.
33:25Can you hear me?
33:26Yeah.
33:28What's the password?
33:29Yeah, what is it?
33:30FTC agency.
33:31FTC?
33:32FTC agent three?
33:33Yes.
33:34Are you here for the cash?
33:35Yes, sir.
33:36Yeah, cash?
33:37Do you want me to open it or what?
33:39That's the key right here.
33:40Oh, good.
33:41You want this here?
33:44Are you on?
33:44Are you on?
33:45Yes.
33:46Hold on.
33:46He's going.
33:47He's going.
33:48He's going.
33:48He's going.
33:48He's going.
33:49He's going.
33:50Let's go.
33:50Let's go.
33:50Let's go.
33:51Let's go.
33:53It's not enough.
33:54Looks like he has a package.
33:56Go, go, go, go, go.
33:57On the way.
33:58It's going to lose.
33:58Ex-County.
34:09I'm on Ridge Mount Brickway in pursuit.
34:17Okay, he went the wrong way.
34:18Go around the circle.
34:20Good.
34:20Good.
34:20Good.
34:21Go.
34:23Guys, meet a vehicle description.
34:25There he is.
34:26That's it.
34:31Meet your garage door close to hospital drive.
34:37Stop.
34:38Turn your car off.
34:41Put it in part.
34:42We're going to be advised close to hospital drive.
34:47Unlock it.
34:49Get out.
34:51Get on your face.
34:53Get down.
34:53On your face.
34:57Let you know here in a minute.
35:00Okay.
35:03Package is in the back seat.
35:04Yeah.
35:05Good job, y'all.
35:07Hell yeah.
35:08Hell yeah.
35:08I didn't expect that to turn into a car chase, but that's the thing with these cases.
35:13You really can't predict what's going to happen.
35:15I'm just glad we got an arrest and this cash mule off the streets.
35:18You understand that you're under arrest, correct?
35:30Yeah.
35:32Are you a citizen of what country?
35:34India.
35:34India.
35:35How long have you been in the United States?
35:38We're in Africa.
35:39So you understood that you were coming up here to get money, get cashed from somebody?
35:44Yeah.
35:44Okay.
35:45I got a call.
35:47Who called you?
35:50So the guy is from back in India and he connected me through social media and all that stuff.
35:57What is the name of the person?
36:02His name?
36:04Paris.
36:05Paris, that's his first name?
36:07Yes, sir.
36:07What about his second name?
36:08I don't know the second name.
36:11And do you know Paris to be a scammer?
36:14I don't know anything about that.
36:16Paris just took some money so that I could pay my dad and I could go back to my country.
36:21Mm-hmm.
36:22Uh, can you please tell me what will be the next procedure or something?
36:28Um, so you will be charged with a crime formally.
36:31For right now, you know, you're being held on theft and plea.
36:35Okay.
36:37I don't think you've told me the truth.
36:39Sir, I told you all the truth, sir.
36:41Well, we'll try being a little later, okay?
36:45Shutting down cash mules is detrimental to call centers.
36:48Across the U.S., cash mules provide an unknown and untraceable stream of cash, ruining people's lives for whatever scam group they work for.
36:58As we suspected, our particular mule work for an unknown scammer group in India run by a man named Paresh.
37:06With this arrest and that cash flow shut down, we'll pass all our findings to Homeland Security to help build a case against Paresh and his call center.
37:14In the meantime, Mountain Home, Arkansas will likely be on their no-scam list for quite a while.
37:31Good news.
37:32We have brought in our revengers, a bunch of people on our team that are professionals at understanding how these scams work.
37:39Took every single phone number that you guys gave us, all of the scam contacts, all of the screenshots, and started calling these guys and pretending to be more victims.
37:47We had the Baxter County Sheriff's Department with us, Mountain Home Police Department, and Homeland Security.
37:52Oh, my goodness.
37:52I have a very old mask, and I was pretending to be an old man.
37:56I talk like this on the phone.
37:58Once we had them confident enough that it was a real victim, this scammer sent a cash mule to the house.
38:07Let me just show you what happened.
38:08Okay.
38:09I'm interested.
38:10Let me show you this here.
38:13Here we go.
38:15You're here for the cash.
38:17You're here for the cash.
38:19He's going, he's going, he's going, he's going, he's going, he's going.
38:22Go, go, go, go.
38:22Go, go, go.
38:23Go, go, go.
38:23Go, go, go, go, go.
38:53Thank you, guys.
38:55I have the press release right here.
38:57A citizen of India was said to be in the United States on a student visa and booked on charges of theft of property, felony, fleeing by vehicle, felony, and currently on hold by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
39:08Wow.
39:10Wonderful.
39:11Mike, how are you feeling about all this?
39:12My concern is primarily to educate the people.
39:15They'll let them see that it can happen, but they need to come forward and tell their stories so you can go to work and make it happen.
39:22The best way to fix a scam is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
39:26You're still in shock.
39:29Barbara looking at this, she's still like.
39:32Yes.
39:32So many people get scammed around the country and keep it to themselves, but you cannot get justice if you don't speak up.
39:43Just a few weeks after our investigation, Barbara Klein's bank returned $6,000 of the $16,000 stolen from her after deeming it wire fraud.
39:53And as for Barbara Kearns and the rest of Mountain Home, with three cash mules arrested in the last few weeks, the community can rest easy, at least for now, knowing they got even.
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