Two Massachusetts residents lost nearly $7,000 in a Bitcoin ATM scam, according to police. The case was caused by a fictitious phone call demanding money for a juror’s absence.
Following Monday’s incident, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office is now warning residents about the plan.
Sheriff Patrick McDermott said in a statement: “The Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office never takes calls like this, and neither do local police departments.”
“If anyone demands money, acts as if they are from our office or another law enforcement agency, and threatens arrest or detention for reasons such as ‘failure to serve jury duty’ or ‘outstanding warrants,’ please hang up immediately.”
In both cases, the victims were led to believe that the person calling them worked for the sheriff’s office and that if they did not pay the fee, they would be taken into custody. They were then instructed to use a nearby Bitcoin ATM kiosk to transfer funds.
“You may be caught by surprise and unknowingly become a victim. If you receive a call, please hang up again and call law enforcement,” the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
A representative from the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office said: decryption It was not possible to provide guidance regarding the possibility of recovering funds. The representative pointed out that Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Information Encryption Fraud; This indicates that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed.
Scams using Bitcoin ATMs and kiosks are on the rise, with data showing that they will cost victims nearly $247 million in 2024. FBI Internet Crime Report.
jump led to an emergency alert The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) warned in August that kiosks are frequently used to commit fraud, especially against seniors.
A crackdown on cryptocurrency machines has begun in some places. June, Spokane City Council, Washington The ban on virtual currency kiosks was unanimously passed. Citywide. New Zealand too Banned virtual currency ATMs Earlier this year, it capped international cash transfers at $5,000 to deter money laundering and criminal financing.
Regulations are also starting to play a role, as in Illinois. Digital Asset Kiosk Act Signed In August, it imposed transaction limits for new users and required ATM operators to issue full refunds to fraud victims.
Discover more from Earlybirds Invest
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
