Law enforcement in Northern California has taken action in response to a concerning rise in scams involving the transfer of money into Bitcoin.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office recently reported a case where a victim lost $15,000 to a scam. According to the sheriff’s office, the victim received a call from a scammer who claimed that her email had been compromised, linking her bank account to the breach. The victim was then directed to what she believed was her bank and persuaded to transfer $15,000 into Bitcoin to protect her funds.
Following the initial transfer, the victim received another call, this time from someone posing as the FBI, who convinced her to transfer an additional $8,000 for the same reason. It was only after the second transfer that the victim became suspicious and contacted the sheriff’s office.
“These scams are regrettably prevalent and often highly successful,” stated the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. They urged anyone who receives emails or calls urging urgent money transfers to stop immediately and contact law enforcement.
Officials emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and banking institutions would never request clients to transfer funds into Bitcoin or gift cards, considering it a major red flag for fraudulent activity.
“This should serve as a major red flag indicating something is amiss,” PCSO emphasized. They urged the public to spread awareness about such scams to protect their loved ones and the community’s financial well-being.