Another day, another social media scam hitting the Bay Area, and honestly? We’re getting tired of it. 🙄

A Pleasanton woman thought she was about to become the next Warren Buffett when she fell victim to an Instagram “stock market wizard” con that ultimately cost her a cool $1 million. Talk about a financial nightmare that makes our startup-crushed wallets weep. 💸

How the Scam Went Down

Here’s the tea: This unsuspecting victim saw an Instagram ad promising a “free” book about investing. Spoiler alert - nothing is ever truly free, especially on the internet. She believed she was going to learn from some magical professor who could predict stock market trends (because that sounds totally legit).

The Courier Hustle

The scammers played a long game, sending multiple couriers to her home close to a dozen times between June and August. These creative criminals even used rideshare services to pick up cash, pretending to be assistants to this mythical “stock market wizard”.

A Growing Trend of Social Media Fraud

This isn’t an isolated incident. Local police have investigated similar scams, including a woman conned into sending “jet fuel” money to someone posing as country singer Morgan Wallen. Seriously, the creativity of these scammers is almost impressive - if it wasn’t so predatory.

The harsh reality? Social media platforms have become a breeding ground for sophisticated fraud that targets vulnerable individuals. Always remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay skeptical, stay safe, and maybe think twice before sliding into those DMs promising instant wealth. 💁‍♀️