Troy woman instructed to deposit $12,500 into Bitcoin ATM amid ongoing scam, police say

A 79-year-old Troy woman was targeted in an ongoing scam that aims to defraud victims by using Bitcoin ATMs, police said.

Last week, the victim told Troy police that she received a text about charges being made to her Apple account.

She allegedly called the number that was included in the message, and was told that she needed to talk to a supervisor because of the alleged charges on her account.

When the victim talked to the fake supervisor, she was directed to withdraw $12,500 from her bank account and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM, which she did, according to the Troy Police Department.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert warning residents of scammers using this method to defraud people.

“Because money sent through Bitcoin ATMs is nearly impossible to recover and these machines lack oversight and regulation, they have become an attractive option for criminals engaged in fraud and money laundering,” Nessel said. “Staying informed can protect consumers from falling victim.”

The scammer typically targets older adults and claims to be someone with Apple, Google or another well-known company, and tells the victims that their accounts have been compromised in some way, according to a release from Nessel’s office. Then the victim is told they must withdraw cash from their bank accounts, deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs and scan and send a receipt or QR code to the scammer.

Bitcoin ATMs are being used to scam people because they don’t have the same safeguards that credit card transactions and bank transfers have.

Nessel’s office shared the following list of things to remember to avoid becoming a victim of this type of scam:

• No legitimate company or government agency will ever ask you to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM. If someone makes such a request, it’s a scam.

• Beware of urgent requests. Scammers create a sense of urgency to prevent victims from thinking critically about the request.

• Do not trust caller ID. Fraudsters can spoof phone numbers to make it appear as though they are calling from a trusted source.

• Never download unknown software or grant remote access to your devices. This can allow scammers to take control of your personal information.

• Talk to your bank before making large withdrawals. If you’re instructed to move money in an unusual way, seek advice first.

• If you believe you have been targeted by a scam, report it immediately. Scams can be reported to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team and local law enforcement.

Anyone who has questions can contact the state’s consumer protection team at 517-335-7599. If anyone needs to file a complaint, they can fill out the online form.