Virginia Woman Loses Over $30,000 in Bitcoin Scam
A woman in Richmond, Virginia, found herself in a tricky situation after losing over $30,000 in a scam. According to CBS 6 Crime Insider Jon Burkett, the woman received an email that looked like it was from PayPal. The email mentioned a purchase of malware and instructed her to call a specific number if she didn’t recognize the transaction.
Unfortunately, when she called the number, the person on the other end manipulated her emotions. Richmond detective Greg Wade explained that the scammer played on her sympathy by claiming to be in a tough spot during the holiday season, asking her to rectify the overpayment by withdrawing cash from two banks. Feeling sorry for the scammer, she withdrew a total of $34,300 and was then directed to load the money into a bitcoin machine on Azalea Avenue.
It took the woman two hours and 873 separate transactions to load the cash into the machine as per the scammer’s instructions. However, with the help of Detective Wade, a search warrant was obtained, and the store was instructed to shut down the machine. Fortunately, all of the woman’s money was still there, held as evidence for the time being but will be returned to her.
Financial adviser Frank Oley expressed relief that the Richmond City Police Department was able to recover all the money. Detective Wade mentioned that the scammer was traced to a location outside the United States, shedding light on the pervasive nature of these types of scams.
It’s a cautionary tale that highlights the importance of staying vigilant against online scams and exercising caution when dealing with unsolicited requests for money or personal information. Remember, it’s always okay to verify the legitimacy of any request before taking action to avoid falling victim to similar scams.
