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A routine day turned into a devastating financial loss for a Plymouth man after a highly coordinated cryptocurrency scam convinced him to hand over $37,000 in cash, exposing how quickly fear and urgency can override caution in the digital age.

Steven Cooke says the ordeal began on March 20 when a full-screen warning suddenly locked his laptop, claiming his device had been “compromised” and instructing him to call a support number immediately.

What followed was a carefully staged operation involving fake identities, fabricated bank alerts, and relentless psychological pressure that ultimately drained tens of thousands of dollars from his accounts.

“I’m literally yelling into my phone like this isn’t me,” Cooke said.

He said the person on the line introduced herself as “Veronica J. Wilson,” claiming his identity had been stolen and that Apple Security had detected alarming activity, including false allegations involving child pornography.

Cooke said the emotional intensity escalated quickly as the scammers began listing partial credit card numbers, attempting to build credibility and panic.

“They started numbering. Do you have one that starts with a five, a three, six, whatever? And Heather and I, my wife, were looking at our credit cards and were saying yes, but we didn’t give them the whole numbers,” Cooke said.

He said the caller later insisted his phone was also compromised and redirected him to what she described as a secure line.

At that point, a second individual joined the call, identifying himself as “Richard Lee” from Chase Bank. He told Cooke that money had already been stolen and promised it could be recovered if he followed instructions.

Cooke said he was then directed to withdraw $37,000 in cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM, a machine used to convert money into cryptocurrency that operates outside traditional banking systems.

Even as doubts began to surface, the pressure never let up.

“There were points where I would challenge him to a certain extent, like is this real?” Cooke said.

After completing the deposit, Cooke said the scammer immediately pushed him to withdraw more money from another bank account.

“I went to a different bank, got more cash out, sat in my (car), and I still was on the call with them. And at that point, they were telling me to go to another (bank). And I paused, and I’m thinking, ‘I might have just lost $37,000,’” Cooke said.

That moment became the turning point. He stopped the transaction, hung up, and called Chase Bank directly using a work phone.

“I hung up, drove home, called a real Chase bank myself on my work phone, and that’s where I realized legitimately that this was a complete scam,” he said.

When he attempted to call the alleged “Richard Lee” back, someone answered under a different name.

“I had some choice words if you can imagine,” he said.

Now speaking out, Cooke says embarrassment is outweighed by the need to warn others.

“I’m probably a little bit more educated than the average person on this, it can really happen to anybody,” he said.

Federal investigators warn that scams like this are increasingly common. The FBI urges the public to “Take a Beat,” watch for red flags, resist pressure, and never send money or personal information under urgency.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center receives nearly 3,000 complaints every day, highlighting the scale of the problem nationwide.

Cooke later learned the scam could have been avoided with a simple reboot of his computer.

“We talked to the real Apple people. They said just turn it off and turn it back on,” he said. “So, you just feel abused.”

He has since reported the incident to the Plymouth Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission.

Plymouth Police Chief Al Cox says cases like this are becoming increasingly common, especially those targeting older adults through fear and emotional manipulation.

He warns that scammers rely heavily on urgency to force victims into fast decisions.

Cox urges the public to slow down whenever money is requested under pressure and to verify independently before acting.

He also emphasizes a critical safety rule: never call numbers provided in pop-up alerts or warnings. Instead, people should always find official contact details themselves and call directly.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted is encouraged to contact the FBI at 313-965-2323 or file a report through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.