A Florida charter school teacher resigned earlier this week after sending $100,000 to a scammer who pretended to be Elon Musk.
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Burns Science and Technology Principal Jan McGee was reportedly warned that the scammer was impersonating Elon Musk after they promised they would invest millions into the school after she made the $100k payment. Fortunately, the school’s business manager was told about the situation and stopped the payment.
Other grievances were filed against McGee during a school board meeting on Tuesday. McGee was not permitted to write checks for more than $50,000, and board chair Albert Amalfitano questioned her credibility due to the case. she has worked at the school since it opened in 2011.
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McGree believes the scammer groomed her and told board members: “I am a very smart lady. Well-educated. I fell for a scam. Grooming is when you talk to somebody, and you believe in them, and they get you to trust them that this is really real, and so I fell for it.”
However, she apologized for her actions and said, “I put myself into this position and into this mess, and I made a bad decision.” During the meeting, three administrators accused McGee of creating a toxic work environment and didn’t want to continue working with her. She also resigned from her position.
How common are impostor scams, and why do people fall for them?
Unfortunately, Internet scams are quite common and can take many forms. Some common types of internet scams include phishing scams, in which scammers attempt to obtain sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers by posing as a trustworthy entity; fake online stores or auction sites, in which scammers set up fake websites to lure in unsuspecting buyers; and advance fee scams, in which scammers promise a large payout or reward in exchange for a smaller payment upfront.
The prevalence of internet scams can vary depending on the region and the demographic being targeted. However, according to a 2020 report by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States, the most common type of internet fraud reported by consumers in 2019 was imposter scams, which accounted for nearly half of all reported incidents. Other common types of internet scams include online shopping and negative option marketing scams. It’s important to be cautious and take steps to protect yourself when using the internet, such as being wary of unsolicited emails or offers and only making purchases from reputable websites.
There are many reasons why people engage in internet scams. Here are a few common motivations:
- Financial gain: Many scammers are motivated by money. They may use various tactics to trick people into giving them money or sensitive information, which they can use to commit fraud or theft.
- Easy access to potential victims: The internet allows scammers to reach a large number of potential victims quickly and easily without having to interact with them physically. This makes it easier for scammers to run their schemes from anywhere in the world.