Gillette, Wyo. — A county man is out half a million dollars after allegedly falling for a scam, posing as an investment opportunity, several years ago, according to Campbell County Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.
The scam was reported yesterday at 10:12 a.m. by a 59-year-old woman, who said her father, 80, had been convinced to become an investor several years ago and has since sent $500,000 to the suspects as of Aug. 22, per Reynolds.
The 80-year-old man was contacted by the scammers years back and had been convinced to make an “initial investment” of $20,000, Reynolds continued, adding that the scammers then made more requests for money until the total reached $300,000, and eventually $500,000.
According to the 59-year-old woman, the scammers told her husband that he couldn’t report what he was doing to law enforcement because he could be charged and arrested for money laundering, Reynolds said.
Investigators will follow up to see if they can contact the 80-year-old man directly, who reportedly kept detailed transaction records of the money he sent to the scammers, according to Reynolds.
