Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When Marcia Hubelbank received what appeared to be a routine text message from Apple Pay warning of suspicious activity on her account, she had no idea she was stepping into a sophisticated scam that would cost $50,000. Hubelbank called the number provided in the message and was connected to someone posing as her bank’s fraud department. “John Cooper” very quickly ramped up Hubelbank’s panic by citing charges for luxury purchases, and built credibility by including a charge from her regular grocery store. All of this made the threat feel real and immediate.
Faced with a terrifying choice between losing access to her bank accounts for months or following the supposed fraud team’s “solution,” Hubelbank was persuaded to withdraw her life savings over the course of three harrowing days and transfer it into Bitcoin through a cryptocurrency kiosk. Along the way, the criminal created a false sense of security by coaching her on what to say to bank employees when she went to withdraw her money – expert psychological manipulation intended to create a state of fear and confusion that overrode Hubelbank’s instincts and judgment.
In this firsthand account, Hubelbank tells the story of the inexplicable feeling that overcame her: a total lack of control to make decisions and heed the red flags she saw all along the way.
Expert scam baiter and YouTube influencer Kitboga digs into Hubelbank’s story with AARP’s foremost fraud expert Kathy Stokes to break down how it all happened.
Knowledge gives you power over scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network™ equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline to better protect yourself and your loved ones. If you or your loved ones have been targeted, we have a fraud specialist on hand to help at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
00:00 Marcia's story
01:12 Apple Pay scam
02:23 Lying to the bank
03:47 "Special" ATM
04:51 Red flags
05:49 Scam aftermath
07:28 Analysis - Kathy Stokes & @KitbogaShow
08:39 Scammer manipulation tactics
09:38 How criminals misuse crypto machines
11:05 Under the ether
12:02 Pause, reflect, protect
13:47 AARP Fraud Watch Network™
If you want to be notified of stories like this, please *SUBSCRIBE* to our channel: youtube.com/@AARP?sub_confirmation=1
Please consider supporting more content like this by becoming an AARP member: aarp.org/becomeamember
- - - - - -
Connect with AARP Online:
Visit us: aarp.org
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older to improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.
When Marcia Hubelbank received what appeared to be a routine text message from Apple Pay warning of suspicious activity on her account, she had no idea she was stepping into a sophisticated scam that would cost $50,000. Hubelbank called the number provided in the message and was connected to someone posing as her bank’s fraud department. “John Cooper” very quickly ramped up Hubelbank’s panic by citing charges for luxury purchases, and built credibility by including a charge from her regular grocery store. All of this made the threat feel real and immediate.
Faced with a terrifying choice between losing access to her bank accounts for months or following the supposed fraud team’s “solution,” Hubelbank was persuaded to withdraw her life savings over the course of three harrowing days and transfer it into Bitcoin through a cryptocurrency kiosk. Along the way, the criminal created a false sense of security by coaching her on what to say to bank employees when she went to withdraw her money – expert psychological manipulation intended to create a state of fear and confusion that overrode Hubelbank’s instincts and judgment.
In this firsthand account, Hubelbank tells the story of the inexplicable feeling that overcame her: a total lack of control to make decisions and heed the red flags she saw all along the way.
Expert scam baiter and YouTube influencer Kitboga digs into Hubelbank’s story with AARP’s foremost fraud expert Kathy Stokes to break down how it all happened.
Knowledge gives you power over scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network™ equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline to better protect yourself and your loved ones. If you or your loved ones have been targeted, we have a fraud specialist on hand to help at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
00:00 Marcia's story
01:12 Apple Pay scam
02:23 Lying to the bank
03:47 "Special" ATM
04:51 Red flags
05:49 Scam aftermath
07:28 Analysis - Kathy Stokes & @KitbogaShow
08:39 Scammer manipulation tactics
09:38 How criminals misuse crypto machines
11:05 Under the ether
12:02 Pause, reflect, protect
13:47 AARP Fraud Watch Network™
If you want to be notified of stories like this, please *SUBSCRIBE* to our channel: youtube.com/@AARP?sub_confirmation=1
Please consider supporting more content like this by becoming an AARP member: aarp.org/becomeamember
- - - - - -
Connect with AARP Online:
Visit us: aarp.org
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older to improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.
