An Ohio couple nearly lost $17,000 in a scam but was saved by a bank manager. The couple believed they owed money for a warrant and intended to purchase gift cards or use a cryptocurrency ATM. Other victims in the area have lost over $25,000. Police advise caution regarding unsolicited requests for payments and elaborate scams targeting individuals regarding cryptocurrency.
An Ohio couple almost lost their savings of $17,000 due to a sophisticated scam. Fortunately, a vigilant bank manager at Chase Bank in Westlake intervened and prevented the transaction. The couple was misled into believing they owed money for a warrant issued by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office and planned to withdraw cash to buy gift cards or deposit into a cryptocurrency ATM, both common red flags in scams.
The bank manager identified the suspicious activity and promptly alerted the Westlake Police Department. Captain Jerry Vogel indicated that the couple realised they were being scammed before they completed the withdrawal. However, not everyone is as fortunate; police reported that two recent scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs in Westlake resulted in losses exceeding $25,000.
In one incident, a woman, seeking customer support online, unknowingly contacted a scammer posing as Microsoft. After being manipulated, she was convinced to withdraw $40,000 and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM to ‘secure’ her funds. Although a store attendant intervened, she had already lost $20,000. In another case, a man was tricked into depositing $5,500 into a Bitcoin ATM after receiving a call from someone pretending to be from the Social Security Administration. The store owner plans to eliminate the ATM to prevent future scams.
Captain Vogel warns the public to stay vigilant, especially about unsolicited requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency ATM deposits, which are frequent scam tactics. He advises residents to confirm the legitimacy of unknown calls and to avoid making payments through gift cards or crypto machines, as these methods are favoured by scammers for their untraceability.
Scam expert Toby Braun highlighted additional warning signs of crypto scams. He cautioned against platforms promising unusually high returns, as these are often scams. Individuals considering investment should conduct thorough due diligence. Braun further advised avoiding personal solicitations for cryptocurrency from unknown sources, as these can arise through various communication channels.
He noted that overly friendly individuals on dating sites might use deepfake technology to deceive victims into investing substantial amounts in crypto. Lastly, Braun advised scepticism towards offers that seem too good to be true, as these often are scams.
