The Royal Ruse: Scammers Target British Citizens
In a bizarre twist of fate, scammers have concocted a scheme that’s almost too outlandish to believe. They’re soliciting British citizens for a whopping nearly $2.5 million in Bitcoin, all under the pretense of saving the local economy post-Brexit. It’s a scam that sounds like it was pulled straight from a sitcom script, featuring royal correspondence and questionable grammar.
The Scandalous Letters
These fraudsters decided that old-school tactics never go out of style, opting to send physical letters to their targets. According to Paul Ridden, the CEO of the UK-based IT firm Smarttask, one of these letters made its way into his hands, and it’s every bit as ludicrous as you would imagine. The letter claims to be from Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary, a job that apparently is up for grabs.
The Claimed Royal Appeal
- Date of the letter: September 16
- Imaginary funds: 82% of a fictional 19 billion British pounds already secured
- Target amount: Between £450,000 to £2 million requested
“Have you received anything like this?” Ridden quipped on LinkedIn, showcasing the letter, which had more than just a whiff of absurdity.
Was anyone actually supposed to believe that the Queen was personally appealing for Bitcoin donations? Apparently, they were banking on a hasty response from unsuspecting victims.
High Returns, Low Credibility
Now, if this scam wasn’t ridiculous enough, they sweetened the deal by promising a staggering 30% interest on Bitcoin donations over three months. As if anyone would casually consider lending the Queen money in cryptocurrency!
Membership Doesn’t Come Cheap
In a move that lends itself directly to the world of the absurd, they even promised recipients the chance to become a member of the Royal Warrant Holders Association. Because nothing says legitimacy like a side bonus of membership in a royal club!
Is Anyone Falling for This?
Following the revelation of the scam, tech publication IT Pro reached out to Buckingham Palace for a comment but has yet to receive a response. As for Ridden, he’s not worried. He expressed confidence that the British public wouldn’t fall for such an obvious scam, pointing out the letter’s poor English and the overall reasonable financial awareness prevalent in the UK today.
Conclusion: Spotting Ridiculous Scams
This silly little scam serves as a reminder that not all that glitters is gold, especially when it comes to requests for Bitcoin from royal entities. Stay sharp, dear readers; if it sounds like a stretch, it probably is!
