Swedish Entrepreneur Got Swindled Out of $1.25 Million By Scammers Impersonating Mr. Beast

Scams don’t just target the vulnerable or the inexperienced. They can even trick successful entrepreneurs with a proven history of smart decisions.

Recently, Swedish entrepreneur Erik Bergman revealed to the world how scammers impersonating YouTuber MrBeast and other big names convinced him to send $1.25 million in crypto.

A Genuine Call, Followed by a Fake Invitation

Bergman’s scam story began with a real phone call from MrBeast. He personally asked Bergman to support Team Water, a legitimate charity project dedicated to building wells in Africa.

Bergman agreed and donated $1 million. The fundraiser was genuine, and MrBeast even tweeted about the gift.

But what followed was a trick. The next outreach came not from MrBeast’s team, but from scammers.

The WhatsApp Group Trap

Bergman received a WhatsApp message from someone claiming to represent Team Water. They invited him into a private group chat with “MrBeast,” “Mark Rober,” billionaires, and influencers.

The group looked lively. Banter, jokes, and even talk of an exclusive Africa trip to see the wells and go on safari. It felt like a community of trusted peers, but unfortunately, every message was fake.

“About a week later I get a message from Team Water on WhatsApp on my personal phone number. They are excited about the donation. They invite me on a trip with the top donors to Africa. To see the wells being built and then stay for a few days for a wildlife safari,” Bergam said on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The entrepreneur even said other known billionaires were in the group along with superstars, making him feel excited to be part of it.

The Crypto Pitch

The scammers then introduced a new “opportunity” while still impersonating MrBeast. They claimed he had partnered with Coinbase on a secret coin launch, offering early access only to million-dollar donors.

This time, urgency was key. The deal required fast action. Bergman, caught between excitement and distraction, sent $500,000 in crypto. Soon after, another round opened, and he invested another $750,000.

“As a part of a marketing collaboration Jimmy has gotten the chance to buy in early on this coin. As a thank you he wants to extend this offer to anyone who donated over $1 million. Everything is secretive and it's important to act fast. This is where I should have stopped. When someone needs you to act fast - it's often to get you to do something without thinking. But I didn't... Everyone in the chat gets excited about this. I know some of them are real crypto experts and they jump on this opportunity,” Bergam explained.

By the time he paused to think and call Mr. Beast, it was already too late.

“And I see some details that are off. I know one of the @adinross is American, but his phone number is British, why is that? For the first time since this chat started, I call Jimmy just to confirm everything. And he says ‘What are you talking about?’ And that's a punch to my stomach.”

When news of the scam broke, MrBeast publicly condemned the scheme and vowed to protect the reputation of Team Water. Outraged, he even offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.

Protecting Yourself Against Sophisticated Scams

Scammers thrive on emotional manipulation and urgency. To stay safe from scams like this:

• Verify investment opportunities independently. Always confirm through official channels before acting on a message, group invite, or “exclusive” investment offer.
• Slow down if someone pressures you to act fast.  
• Double- and even triple-check details such as mismatched phone numbers, odd email domains, or inconsistencies in tone are signs of fraud.
• Don’t trust group pressure. Scammers create fake group chats with bots or accomplices to make you follow the crowd.
• Be mindful of what you post online. Scammers watch public posts and announcements to tailor their attacks. Celebrating a business win, donation, or investment can attract criminals posing as trusted names.
• Watch for scams after big events. Major announcements, charity drives, or trending collaborations are magnets for scammers, so be wary of messages that follow such events.
• Use security tools – advanced protection helps detect phishing attempts and impersonation schemes before they reach you.

This case shows that wealth and success don’t make you immune. In fact, entrepreneurs and creators are prime targets because criminals know they control valuable resources, reputations, and communities.

Two ways to build protection:

• Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security – Protects entrepreneurs and small business owners against phishing, fraud, and targeted scams that start with phone calls or messaging apps.
• Bitdefender Security for Content Creators – Secures content creators against impersonation, account takeovers, and scams designed to exploit their online presence.