Eagan Police Help Thwart $125,000 Bitcoin Scam in Progress

Eagan police have successfully intervened in a $125,000 Bitcoin scam targeting a senior couple. Thanks to a good Samaritan’s quick thinking, police stopped the transaction just before it could go through. The couple had been misled into thinking they were communicating with the FTC after falling victim to prior identity theft. Law enforcement continues to investigate cryptocurrency scams, which are reportedly on the rise.

Eagan, Minn., has recently witnessed a dramatic intervention thanks to local police, who successfully thwarted a Bitcoin scam that nearly cost a senior couple $125,000. This incident unfolded at the Eagan Farmers Grandson Gas Station & Eatery on Monday afternoon. A good Samaritan named Gabrielle noticed the couple could be in trouble and promptly called 911 after recognising the situation for what it was. “I was like, ‘I cannot just watch this,’” Gabrielle recounted, indicating her urgency to act.

According to the Eagan Police Department, the couple had been victims of identity theft just weeks prior and were misled into thinking they were communicating with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They were instructed to transfer a considerable sum to secure their funds and protect their identities. Eagan Police Sergeant Rich Evans added that police intervened just in time, noting, “[An officer] confronted the couple and said, ‘Stop what you’re doing before you hit that button.’” The transaction was already processed on their device, and the officer halted the action just moments before it was finalized.

This encounter highlights a troubling trend: cryptocurrency-related scams are on the uptick, capturing the attention of law enforcement and observers alike. An employee at the gas station, Roy Solis, noted that such scenarios are becoming alarmingly common, revealing the urgent need for public awareness. “Somebody had pointed out, ‘Hey, there’s a couple of people over there. They might be getting scammed,’” he recalled, having warned the couple to be cautious.

In light of this alarming event, Eagan police are pursuing an investigation into the attempted fraud. Gabrielle, who played a crucial role in preventing the scam, expressed her relief that the couple would not become victims of this crime. “I’m just glad that some scumbag wherever wasn’t able to get all the money they worked hard for,” she stated emphatically.