KEYSTONE, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado law enforcement are warning the public after a person in Keystone fell victim to a scam making the rounds.
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the crooks called the unsuspecting victim and told them they would have to pay thousands in Bitcoin to avoid being arrested.
The sheriff’s office said the victim complied, sending the scammers over $6,000 in Bitcoin and was preparing to send another $4,000. Deputies were able to intervene before the second payment went through.
“Personal information was also given to the scammer during the phone call. The resident was given preventative steps to protect his identity,” the sheriff’s office said.
In September, the sheriff’s office responded to a similar incident at a bank, also located in Keystone. In that instance, the caller claimed be a sergeant with a different Colorado county and told the would-be victim to pay $8,000 to prevent being arrested. Bank employees were able to stop the woman just in time.
The “jury duty scam,” as it’s known, frequently pops up in Colorado. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office issued a similar warning a few years ago.
“The caller threatens the person who picked up the phone stating they missed jury duty. The scammer goes on to say it is a felony to miss jury duty and the targeted victim needs to pay fines,” EPSO said in a 2021 news release. “… The sheriff’s office would like to remind citizens that our office NEVER calls or sends texts to inform individuals they have an active warrant or have missed court or jury duty.”
Other law enforcement offices across the state reiterate the same again and again: they will never call and threaten arrest, and they will never call to ask for a payment. If you get a phone call asking otherwise, hang up and call the real agency to verify the phone call.
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