• Digital scam victim loses $280,000
• Contacted a stranger on Facebook and formed a relationship

Joe Novak, 52, former Vice President of Information Technology in Wallington, New Jersey, received an unexpected message from a stranger on Facebook in October 2024, which turned his life into a tragic experience, resulting in a financial loss of $280,000.

The problem began just three months after Novak posted about his son’s struggle with celiac disease, which caught the attention of a woman named Ailes Donner, who claimed to be a fashion designer in New York.

Their conversations quickly moved from Facebook to WhatsApp, where they exchanged messages intensively.

Ailes presented a luxurious lifestyle, sharing pictures of fancy cars and extravagant vacations, and expressed sympathy for Novak’s family situation, as he was going through a divorce and a custody battle for his children.

By February, both parties declared their love for each other.

However, the relationship was a carefully crafted façade designed to gain Novak’s trust.

By April 2025, Novak had invested all his savings into a digital opportunity that Ailes claimed was legitimate and profitable.

Initially, Novak made small deposits to test the site and was able to withdraw them easily, which reassured him to invest a total of $280,000.

However, when he attempted to withdraw the funds, he encountered unexpected fees and discovered he could not access any of his money.

Novak realized he had fallen victim to a scam known as “pig butchering,” where fraudsters build relationships with victims before exploiting them financially.

Internet experts report that the number of victims losing billions through such cryptocurrency scams is increasing.

After discovering the deception, Novak reported it to local authorities and filed a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Novak continues his efforts to reclaim his funds and rebuild his life.