It all started with a pop-up on the Perry, Georgia, couple's computer warning the machine was infected with a virus. The couple called the help number provided.

That was their first mistake.

The scammer on the other end warned that the virus may have compromised their bank account and helpfully connected them with their bank's fraud department.

This was the couple's second mistake. They should have hung up and called the bank's fraud department directly. The person the scammer connected them with was, of course, just another scammer. This individual confirmed that their account had been compromised, saying there were pending suspicious transactions.

The couple was then passed along to a third scammer pretending to be from the Federal Trade Commission. This individual even emailed phony documents to "confirm" his identity. The fake federal agent told the couple the best way to protect their money was to take the $185,916 from the compromised account and buy bars of gold.

The scammer told the couple an undercover FTC agent would come to their home, pick up the gold, and take it to Washington D.C. Once verified, the couple would receive a check for the full amount.

As implausible as this may sound to you and me, the couple bought the story and went as far as to purchase 1 kilogram Royal Canadian Mint gold bars from a dealer in Texas.