FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has reported over a dozen cases of cryptocurrency-related fraud schemes since January, totaling over $150K collectively.
Police say that criminals have been operating across the county, attempting to exploit citizens into depositing money into crypto ATMs masquerading as law enforcement, banks, legitimate entities, businesses, or federal government agencies.
FCPD says these crimes that have been known to prey on the elderly often start with phone calls or emails asking for large sums of money in ways that are hard to trace, such as crypto ATMs, wire transfers and gift cards.
The sums that have been reported by police range from $3,000 to upwards of $20,000.
In one case reported on Jan. 12, someone was tricked into depositing $31,100 into a bitcoin ATM.
As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the FCPD has announced several preventative measures that citizens can take to safeguard against fraud.
They recommend not to trust unsolicited calls from unknown numbers, and tell citizens to always confirm the identity of who they talk to and consult verified contact information for these sources.
According to the FCPD, law enforcement will never ask for money over the phone, despite these calls alleging that payment needs to be made to avoid arrest, post a bond or make up for missed jury duty.
Citizens have also received calls from individuals posing as Federal Agents alleging that their names were involved in criminal activity or money laundering.
Other advice includes consulting family and friends before handling large sums of money, refraining from sharing personal information over the phone, never allowing remote access to your computer, and using verified platforms when dealing with digital currencies such as Bitcoin.
For those who fall victim to fraud, the FCPD says that some cryptocurrency ATMs may offer partial transaction reimbursements after a police report has been filed.
Financial crimes can be reported to the FCPD through the Financial Crimes Online Reporting website or by calling the department’s non-emergency line at 703-691-2131 to have assistance from an officer. Read more here about elder fraud and what can be done to prevent it.
