Eureka Police are investigating an apparent romance scam that cost the victim approximately $800,000 over a three-year period. The victim, a 67-year-old Eureka woman, died on April 30, Capt. Michael Werges reported.
The woman’s son-in-law, a 48-year-old Eureka man, reported the scam on May 1. He said he reviewed the woman’s finances, he discovered that the woman was sending money to someone named Bruce Ludwig, the report said.
The woman sent money to the man through wire transfers, the digital-payment platform Zelle, Bitcoin digital payments and gift cards. Two of the women’s bank accounts had been closed during this period for suspected fraud, according to the report.
Werges said detectives were still investigating the case as of May 7. He said Eureka Police will forward information to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.