TL;DR: ABC7 reported on October 16, 2026 that Adan Look, a retired San Francisco city gardener, lost $500,000 to a Facebook “girlfriend” who sold him a crypto dream, then started chatting with a new online love who asked for about $45,000. His bank blocked several transfers, and his son stepped in before he borrowed against his home.
What happened
ABC7’s 7 On Your Side first reported on Adan Look, a retired San Francisco city gardener, after he lost $500,000 to a scam known as pig butchering. A Facebook contact called “Annie” said she had made millions investing in cryptocurrency and talked about a dream home together in Hawaii. Look wired money to banks in Asia despite warnings from family and friends, and only stopped when the money ran out.
The second scam
Within weeks, starting in February, he was talking to “Vicky”, who said she was an Army combat medic in Kuwait. According to ABC7:
- she asked for an iPhone, money for her mother’s “brain disease” and an iPad for her son;
- Bank of America blocked three $2,000 wires to a “diplomat” named Priscilla;
- he still sent $1,000 by Zelle and $1,000 in Apple gift cards;
- she then asked for about $45,000 to “pay off” her commander, and Look, pre-approved for a $500,000 mortgage, considered borrowing against his home.
What the checks found
A reverse image search matched Vicky’s photo to a profile on another site under a different name, and the Army told ABC7 it was extremely confident the soldier does not exist. Flowers “Vicky” sent were paid for with a stolen card. His son Jonathan warned the bank, Apple stores and the mortgage officer. Even after he was shown the evidence, a new persona, “Suzy”, was already messaging him.
Why victims get hit twice
People who have paid once are often targeted again, by new “partners” or by fake recovery services. Our explainer on pig butchering scams covers the full playbook, and elder fraud statistics for 2026 show how often older Americans are targeted. Watch for fake “recovery” offers too: see the fake FTC refund recovery scam.
Red flags
- An online partner who is overseas, in the military or on a rig, and can never video call properly.
- Talk of crypto profits, then requests for gifts, gift cards or “fees” to release money or a person.
- Requests to wire money to third parties such as “diplomats” or agents.
- Anger when family, banks or friends question the relationship.
If someone you love is in one
Report to IC3 and FTC ReportFraud, call the bank, and read how to report a scam to IC3, gift card scam recovery and realistic crypto scam recovery. Scammers often find older targets through leaked contact details, so run our free email exposure check for yourself or a parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the retiree lose?
$500,000 in the first scam, according to ABC7. In the second he sent at least $2,000 more before transfers were blocked.
What is pig butchering?
A long fake relationship, often online, that leads the victim into a fake crypto investment until their savings are gone.
How was the second scammer exposed?
A reverse image search matched her photo to another profile, and the Army said the soldier she claimed to be does not exist.
Where do I report a romance scam in the US?
Report to IC3 and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and contact your bank immediately.
Sources
- ABC7 News: SF retiree loses $500,000 in pig butcher scam, then falls for the same scam again (Oct 16, 2026)
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- FTC ReportFraud