Royal Oak Man Loses $26,000 To New Cyber Scam

Victim's family launches GoFundMe to restore stolen savings amid health issues

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:38am

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A 70-year-old Royal Oak, Michigan man recently lost his entire $26,000 in savings to a sophisticated new cyber scam, leaving his family in a difficult financial situation as they care for his wife's advanced Parkinson's disease and his own past heart attack.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing threat of cyber scams targeting vulnerable older adults, with criminals exploiting technology to steal life savings and leaving victims and their families to grapple with the aftermath.

The details

The victim, a grandfather, had his bank account completely drained in a single day by the scam, which cyber security experts say has caught many people off guard in Michigan. His daughter has launched a GoFundMe campaign to try to restore the stolen $26,000, which the family says they have little chance of recovering through official channels.

  • The incident occurred right after the victim's birthday.

The players

Royal Oak Man

A 70-year-old grandfather who lost his entire $26,000 in savings to a cyber scam.

Victim's Daughter

The victim's daughter who set up a GoFundMe campaign to try to restore the stolen funds.

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What they’re saying

“RIGHT AFTER HIS BIRTHDAY, they were victims of a devastating bank scam that wiped out one of my dad's accounts in a single day. It was insane. It was money he had worked so hard to put away. He also feels absolutely horrible about this happening to him. We've spoken with the banks and police, but having any chance of getting any of the money back is slim to none.”

— Victim's Daughter

What’s next

The family is hoping the GoFundMe campaign will raise enough money to restore the $26,000 that was stolen.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for greater education and protection for older adults against sophisticated cyber scams that can devastate their financial security, especially when coupled with other health and family challenges.