PAW PAW, Mich. (WOOD) – Van Buren County deputies are warning of an uptick in scams involving cryptocurrencies, with people they heard from recently losing nearly $100,000 combined.
The scams work like this: Victims will receive emails that appear to be from legitimate companies, often mentioning an invoice or a virus.
Example: “You have successfully renewed your McAfee Antivirus subscription for $600. If this is not you, please call this number to cancel,” a statement released Thursday by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office said in part. “Another example (is) a pop-up alert stating ‘Your computer is infected with spyware, do not use it. Please call this number.”
When victims call the number listed, the person on the other end of the line may display a company identification number to try to show they work for a real company — but it’s fake.
Scammers tell victims that there is a problem with their accounts. In some cases, they even transfer the victim to another fraudster who pretends to be from the bank’s fraud department.
The scammers eventually ask victims for money through a financial app or via a cryptocurrency ATM. The scammers then ramp up their scare tactics, saying something is wrong with the deposit and demanding more, saying they could lose their jobs if the victim doesn’t solve the problem.
“They will use this tactic multiple times until the victims run out of money or realize they have not spoken with their actual bank,” the statement read.
Deputies said it’s difficult to track down scammers online and by phone, and you’ll likely never get your money back if you lose it.
If you think there’s a problem with your bill or your bank account, find the company or bank’s number yourself and call them, rather than calling a number or clicking a link in an unsolicited email. You can also go to your bank in person to find out what’s going on. Real banks won’t ask you to use cryptocurrencies, money apps, or gift cards to solve a problem.