I tracked down my WhatsApp crypto scammers

The $75 billion scam hiding in your WhatsApp chats

For months, I kept getting invited to WhatsApp group chats filled with people who claimed to be making tons of money investing in crypto. The groups boasted exclusivity and authority — with names like Anderson Trading Club, VIP Robert Strategy Group, and Jan’s Cryptocurrency Forum — and their members constantly flooded the chat with pictures of lavish lifestyles and talk of huge profits.

I tried to figure out who they really were — and the answer showed me just how close we all are to a much darker side of the internet.

Hello and welcome! Tunnel Vision is a new independent video news show that dives deep into mysteries from all corners of the internet. With a commitment to transparency, we pull back the curtain on the journalistic process, emphasizing the journey of discovery rather than simply presenting the final answer.

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Twitter: / haubursin

-- CHAPTER TITLES --
00:00 What are these WhatsApp groups?
01:22 The playbook
02:22 Real or fake?
05:20 Making contact
10:54 The scam
14:30 The victims
19:02 Setting a trap
22:33 What can we do?

[CleoAbram]

Christophe!!! Congratulations on ep 1!!! Tunnel Vision is amazing and I can't wait for ep 2.

[czb]

As a Chinese who lives in Southeast Asia, I can assure you that these scams were so frequent in 2023, and a movie named “No More Bets” was shot to increase awareness of the citizens. It’s true that some of the scammers were actually the victims where they got scammed to fly to Myanmar, Thailand or Cambodia for better job opportunities, and later were kidnapped. The victims were mainly from China, Taiwan and Malaysia, and they all communicated thru Chinese. It went viral within the Chinese community, but it didn’t go viral outside it, simply because those who didn’t speak Chinese were not the scammers’ target audience. I guess since now most Chinese are aware of these scams, the scammers are shifting their target audience to another community.

[theinhtikezaw]

I am from Myanmar and I once was a victim of that scam too. I was lucky enough not to lose more than 3000 USD. Just so lucky enough, I was about to lose around 25000-30000 USD but then suddenly I got a sense that I might be in a scam. There I stopped everything. Thank you for making this video. More people need to know about this

[_dx_dy]

"Are you also based in San Francisco?" "Yeah, sure" loool

[Meank_King]

We always think of scammers as being awful people, but this video really adds back the humanity of these people, the fact that they too are victims. Thanks for brining a different side to things!

[OmoNok]

It so sad that the scammer can be just a normal person that wanted to work

[aileenxxo]

Hearing these people's voices over the phone so thrilled to be evil, almost giddy sounding, is utterly disgusting. Thank you *Scripttron* all you and your team does to shut them scammers

[phillipbruce]

As someone who works in IT and is a huge cybersecurity nerd, THANK YOU for making this video! It’s such a huge problem and you manage to explore and explain it in a really palatable manner. Will definitely be sharing this with family and friends who may not already be aware. Keep it up, and I can’t wait to see where this channel goes!

[coffeezillaextras]

incredible work here. visuals to the storytelling, excellent.

[kaerdayx]

*Scripttron, * your efforts in fighting these scammers are truly commendable! We must do everything we can to shield the elderly and the public from these deceitful individuals. You're a true hero

[JonJosephKuhn]

The bar for independent journalism is being set appropriately high. I wish this would stop all squirrel brained ideas from infecting algorithms. But hey you cant win everything, all the time.

[Jacksonn____]

Hilarious, *Scripttron* I love the work you do mate. Those low life scammers take money from old ladies, they have no soul or heart and deserve everything u give them. Your doing a service to humanity. Love the videos, keep doing the good work

[aileenxxo]

Hearing these people's voices over the phone so thrilled to be evil, almost giddy sounding, is utterly disgusting. Thank you *Scripttron* all you and your team does to shut them scammers

[jannnayy]

Mr *Scripttron, * I would like to sincerely thank you from the BOTTOM of my heart! So many from tough harsh living conditions that suffer and you helping and giving them something that they desperately need just to survive. I thank God for wonderful people like you that are making the differences that truly matter most! God bless you *Scripttron* !!! Love from Boston, USA

[johnfolabi]

Bless your heart *Scripttron* . It's so sad how the scammers prey on the elderly and the uninformed public. Bless you and all others who fight against these crimes. It's horrible how mainstream media is not doing the right thing by shining light on these things to help the public.

[tammyvania]

Youre exactly part of the reason why people arent getting scammed as often. You, and *Scripttron*, and others that put scammer in the spotlight and send them running. Keep doing what you do, you are a credit to the people.

[johnchessant]

A douse of cold water to always keep in mind: If they truly had a way to get rich quick, why would they be sharing it with you?

[devonjacko-mo]

As a veteran of the Marine Corps who served in combat, I want you to know that the work you are doing is crucial. You're fighting these crooks and terrorists on the cyber front. You are fighting to keep our society's most defenseless people safe from harm. You guy at *Scripttron* are doing a great Job

[rarie]

One thing I learned from this type of scam is to just ask on how to withdraw the money. Usually they will delete your messages and then ban you from the group.

[JC]

The first advertisement following your video is a XRP crypto scam. Youtube making money from scammers selling advertising to them. The wheel keeps on turning.

Great video, thanks a lot for sharing.