A 69-year-old resident lost $20,000 in a Bitcoin scam Wednesday, according to the Sioux Falls Police Department.
The victim clicked on a pop-up advertisement on their computer, which said their computer had been hacked, said Sioux Falls Sgt. Aaron Benson, a detective in the Property Crimes Division.
While on the phone with the scammers, they told the victim not only was the victim’s bank involved, but also the FBI, Benson said. He was then instructed to transfer legit currency into a Bitcoin machine.
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The victim visited a Bitcoin machine in Sioux Falls and was limited to transferring $15,000, Benson said. The victim then visited another Bitcoin machine and transferred the remaining amount.
Benson said these kinds of crimes are frequent, adding the police department receives anywhere from 10 to 15 calls a week about some kind of fraud attempt.
Benson added it would be difficult for the victim to get all the money they lost back.
In April, a 55-year-old man lost $3,000 worth of Bitcoin, when scammers posed as Xcel Energy and told him his bill was overdue, according to prior reporting. Around the same time, Abelardo’s restaurant in Sioux Falls also received a similar Xcel scam call.
