our daily breach

Our Daily Breach - 2024/10/03

Murdoc

Oct 3, 2024 — 2 min read

Credit: Frank Brennan - iStock

In the near-empty convenience store, an elderly Quebecois man shouts into his phone, his voice a mix of desperation and frustration. “My love, I need that money you promised me!” His words echo off the shelves, disrupting the quiet. He pulls the phone away from his ear, covering it with his weathered hand, liver spots marking the skin. A low, exasperated tabarnak escapes his lips.

He turns back to the Bitcoin ATM, jabbing at the touch screen with growing agitation. His hand trembles slightly as he tries again. “Désolé, I don’t understand why it’s not working,” he mutters, his voice softer now, tinged with a helplessness that betrays his rising panic. “Where is my money? I need this to come see you, mon cher.”

Today's breach is one of the heart.

In 2023 Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams according to the Federal Trade Commission. For the lucky few that are unfamiliar with scheme, it generally goes like this: a deep, often romantic connection is cultivated over time. Then, inevitably, the request for a loan comes, just a small favor until they can pay it back. After that? Silence.

Florida woman Cristine Petitfrere siphoned $2.7 million worth of professed love for her online personas. On September 11, 2024, she pled guilty to conspiring with a co-conspirator to launder the stolen funds abroad. She will be sentenced on December 11th, facing a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

As for the man in the store, I did my best to explain to him that he would never see his money, that he should report it as a crime. But I could see in his eyes that he already knew. Some part of him understood it was too good to be true. Still, he couldn’t bear to listen.

I often think back on that day, what, if anything, could you say to someone whose heart is manipulated beyond reason? If the 32x33 manages to stand the test of time you can share this story instead of having that difficult conversation.