In White Settlement, Texas, a police officer managed to stop a scam that nearly cost an elderly woman $40,000.
A scammer posing as a Chase Bank representative had deceived the victim into withdrawing her life savings and depositing the funds into a Bitcoin ATM.
The White Settlement Police Department (WSPD) disclosed that the scam was thwarted on June 19, thanks to a call from a citizen. The concerned individual contacted the authorities after witnessing the elderly woman depositing a substantial sum into a Bitcoin ATM while engaged in a suspicious phone call.
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The caller ID falsely displayed "Chase Bank," convincing the victim that she was dealing with a legitimate bank employee. The scammer coordinated a ride service to take the victim to a local Chase Bank, where she withdrew the money. The victim was then directed to a convenience store with a Bitcoin ATM to finalize the transaction.
The suspect used fear tactics, threatening the woman with arrest if she failed to comply.
Dashcam footage from the incident shows an officer stepping in to interrupt the scam. Despite the scammer's attempts to maintain communication with the victim and push for the completion of the transaction, the officer's timely intervention prevented further loss.
By the time the police intervened, the woman had already deposited $23,900 into the Bitcoin ATM. Authorities are currently collaborating with government agencies to trace and recover the lost funds.
Sergeant James Stewart, who responded to the call, said:
All I could do is visualize my mom in this case. <...> I wish we could find this guy and place him behind bars for a very long time because he is probably doing this to other people.
Chief of Police Christopher Cook thanked the citizen who reported the suspicious activity. The department plans to formally recognize the citizen's contribution at an upcoming City Council meeting.
The quick action of the White Settlement police and the proactive involvement of the community members exemplify the importance of cooperation in fighting financial crime. The incident serves as a reminder for the public to stay alert to potential fraud, particularly involving digital currencies.
In other news, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) recently revealed that there has been a spike in "pig butchering" scams, where scammers build trust with victims through romance and then lure them into investing in fake crypto schemes.
