Summary:
$6,000 in Bitcoin lost by a Keystone resident due to a scam call.
Scammers impersonated law enforcement officials regarding fake jury duty.
Another victim in Denver lost $5,000 following similar tactics.
Colorado documented 1,300 crypto fraud cases totaling $81 million in losses in 2023.
FBI warns of aggressive scammers using number spoofing tactics.
A Shocking Crypto Scam in Keystone, Colorado
A Keystone, Colorado resident recently fell victim to a sophisticated crypto scam, losing over $6,000 in Bitcoin. The fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officials, threatening arrest for allegedly missing jury duty, as reported by the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
Quick Intervention Saves Additional Funds
Documentation from Decrypt reveals that an additional transfer of $4,000 was almost executed, but deputies intervened just in time. Despite this, the scammers had already obtained sensitive personal information during the call.
"A deputy will never call anyone to notify them of a warrant for their arrest and then offer to clear it in exchange for gift cards, wire transfers, or Bitcoin," said the Sheriff's Office in their incident report.
Similar Incidents on the Rise
Logs from the report indicate that similar incidents are occurring across the state. In one case, a woman in Denver lost almost $5,000 in Bitcoin after being convinced by scammers posing as police officers that she had missed jury duty. Following the perpetrator's instructions, she sent payment through a Bitcoin ATM. Upon contacting the Denver Police for confirmation, she discovered she had been defrauded, and it’s unlikely the money will be recovered.
Increasing Crypto Fraud Cases
This alarming situation mirrors another incident from September, where bank staff in Keystone prevented a resident from transferring $8,000 in crypto after receiving similar fraudulent calls. Scammers are increasingly using number spoofing techniques to make their calls appear legitimate.
Colorado's Growing Crypto Fraud Landscape
The crypto fraud landscape in Colorado has significantly expanded, with state investigators documenting over 1,300 cases totaling $81 million in losses in 2023. According to law enforcement data, Colorado ranks 15th nationally for crypto-related crimes.
FBI's Warning About Scams
Earlier this year, FBI Denver issued a warning about token impersonation scams, highlighting high-profile cases where approximately $3.2 million in crypto was misappropriated by a pastor and his wife targeting their Christian community.
"These scammers can be aggressive and persuasive," cautioned the Sheriff's Office. They noted that crypto transactions are particularly attractive to fraudsters due to their irreversible nature and the difficulty in tracing funds once transferred.
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