CLEVELAND, Ohio - CLEVELAND - An elderly man from Bristolville, Trumbull County, and his sister were swindled out of more than $1 million in a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio has filed a civil complaint to seize assets in an effort to return the stolen funds.

The fraud began in late 2024 when the Bristolville victim, whose identity has not been released, received a text message from an unknown number.

The sender, posing as a successful investor, eventually persuaded the victim to move their conversations to the messaging platform Telegram, using the username "Shaw Goddess." Over time, the scammer gained the victim's trust and convinced him to invest in cryptocurrencies.

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