Erik Bergman Feels “Ashamed and Stupid” After $1.25M Scam

Great.com founder and Catena Media co-founder Erik Bergman has revealed that he fell victim to an elaborate crypto scam over the weekend. The ordeal ended up costing him $1.25 million, after being tricked into believing he was investing alongside YouTube stars and high-profile personalities.

“I Feel Ashamed and Stupid”

The 37-year-old entrepreneur, known for his philanthropy and investments, shared the story on X, admitting, “I just got scammed for $1.25 million. I feel ashamed and stupid.”

The ordeal began innocently enough when Bergman received a genuine phone call from YouTubers MrBeast and Mark Rober, asking him to support their Team Water initiative, a campaign aimed at building wells in Africa. After researching the global water crisis, he pledged $1 million. MrBeast publicly thanked him for the donation, and Bergman felt proud to be part of the cause.

Soon after, scammers posing as representatives from Team Water contacted him via WhatsApp, inviting him on an exclusive trip to Africa with other top donors. They added him to a group chat that appeared to include MrBeast, Mark Rober, and “well-known billionaires like @StakeEddie and @tobi and streamer superstars like @adinross”.

Bergman, who has always appreciated the fun side of life, admitted he felt “like a 13-year-old boy wanting to fit in,” while also describing that he hesitated sending messages in the chat, not wanting to look “uncool.”

The scam later on escalated when the fake “MrBeast” started pitching a secret crypto opportunity, claiming to have partnered with Coinbase on a new coin launch. Chat members, who Bergman believed were real billionaires and influencers, expressed excitement and encouraged each other to buy in.

“Will do ty for the opportunity”, said the person posing as Ed Craven. “I will send it when I get home.”, said the fake Adin Ross in the chat. 

Caught up in the hype and not wanting to be left out, Bergman and a friend wired $500,000, then later another $750,000, to wallets provided by the scammers. 

“Shame Can Only Live in the Shadows”

It wasn’t until he noticed small inconsistencies, like one supposed American influencer having a British phone number, that he paused and called the real MrBeast.

The YouTuber’s reaction was blunt: “Wow, I don’t know what to say… please tell me you didn’t send them any money.”

When Bergman admitted he had sent the $1.25 million, the reality hit, as he realized the entire group chat, the trip to Africa, and the investment opportunity had all been fabricated.

Despite the loss, Bergman says he has chosen openness over secrecy, sharing his experience to reduce feelings of shame, adding that he still believes in Team Water and remains proud of his original donation.

Bergman also shared that this is not the first time that he was scammed. “The first time, I was scammed for about $3000 when I was 20. A fortune to me back then. That time I felt so ashamed that I didn’t tell anyone about it for many years.”

The Swede who helped Catena reach more than 300 employees and $200 million in value before deciding to step down to start an organization that exclusively donates the entirety of its profits to environmental charities didn’t want the shame to keep haunting him this time around, so he told his wife, parents, brother, and close friends. 

“I’ve gotten so much support,” he continued, mentioning a particularly moving message from his brother. 

“Remember that shame can only live in the shadows. Tell people about your shame, and I promise that the feeling will change.”, the X post describing the “very skilfully orchestrated” scam further said.