What the Hack? Episode 220: The $5,000 Mistake: Inside a Facebook Scam
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Oct 7, 2025 Tony Bongiovanni, a musician and band manager, shares a harrowing tale of how a scammer exploited his locked Facebook account, costing him nearly $5,000. He reveals the shocking moment he discovered an impostor account and the deceptive tactics used by scammers posing as Meta support. After unwittingly sharing personal information and making rapid crypto transactions guided by the scammers, Tony learns to appreciate the importance of caution online. His experience serves as a stark warning about the dangers of internet trust and the need for vigilance.
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False Lifeline Through A Sponsored Ad
- Tony Bongiovanni called a Google-ad phone number claiming to be Facebook support and reached a scammer who answered the phone.
- The call felt official and relieved him after a week of being locked out, which made him trust the caller.
Screen Sharing Led To Identity Exposure
- Scammers had Tony install screen-sharing and messaging apps and upload photos of his driver's license.
- They then guided him through transactions in his Robinhood account while watching his screen.
Rapid Margin Trades Drained $5,000
- The scammer directed Tony to use margin investing to buy crypto repeatedly, creating six rapid transactions.
- Those purchases drained about $4,867 and forced Tony to move $5,000 to cover the margin balance.