San Francisco retiree sends more money after losing $500,000 to scam

A retired San Francisco city gardener who lost $500,000 in a romance and cryptocurrency scam sent money to another purported online partner before reporters helped expose the deception, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The report describes how a fabricated romantic relationship drew Look into further payments despite his earlier loss and his son's efforts to intervene. Bank safeguards stopped attempted wire transfers, but Look still sent money through a payment service and gift cards.

Look's first loss followed contact on Facebook with someone using the name Annie. That persona steered him toward a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment, and he wired money to banks in Asia, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

He later began communicating with someone calling herself Vicky, who claimed to be an Army combat medic in Kuwait. Their chats had continued since February. She sought money for personal needs and asked for $45,000, supposedly to pay her commander for an immediate discharge, according to the report.

Bank of America rejected three attempts by Look to wire $2,000 to someone named Priscilla, whom Vicky described as a diplomat. Look nevertheless sent $1,000 through Zelle and another $1,000 in Apple gift cards, the report said.

His son, Jonathan Look, contacted Apple stores and a loan officer in an effort to stop further payments. Jonathan said his father had been preapproved for a $500,000 mortgage loan, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The 7 On Your Side team at ABC7 Los Angeles's San Francisco sister station found a photograph supplied by Vicky on an adult dating website under another name. The Army told reporters it was extremely confident no service member with the name she gave existed. Fillmore Florist owner Fred Tabar also said flowers attributed to Vicky had been purchased with a stolen credit card.

Look blocked Vicky after the reporting team and scam investigator Erin West of Operation Shamrock presented evidence of deception. But he had already connected online with someone calling herself Suzy, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. The report did not establish that person's identity.