Bitcoin scheme targets seniors in Hoover

HOOVER, Ala. (WBRC) – Hoover police are warning about a Bitcoin scheme that has been targeting elderly victims in recent weeks.

Police were notified when the victims entered a gas station in the 1600 block of Montgomery Highway with large amounts of cash and began inserting into the Bitcoin machine inside the business. Officers said the woman had been targeted with a pop-up ad on her computer fraudulently telling her there was a problem with her Apple account and asking her to call a customer support number. When the number was called, she was eventually connected to a scammer who posed as a representative of her bank and instructed her to withdraw $20,000 in cash to take to the Bitcoin machine to resolve a problem with her account.

The second incident occurred weeks later under very similar circumstances and again involved an elderly victim who was defrauded via computer leading to a significant cash withdrawal. In both cases, alert citizens who observed the elderly victims depositing large amounts of money into a cryptocurrency machine thought this was suspicious and immediately contacted the police. Officers were able to respond and intervene but the suspects are believed to be overseas.

Here are some warning signs:

• A sure sign of a scam is being asked to withdraw money and convert it into another form of money, most commonly cryptocurrency or gift cards.
• Scammers will speak with a sense of urgency and work hard to keep you on the phone, discouraging you from contacting the police or anyone else.
• Scammers may sound legitimate, and they may even know some personal details about you to sound more credible.
• Legitimate businesses such as your bank will not ask for your personal information such as your social security number over the phone.
• Using search engines like Google to find customer service phone numbers for companies like Amazon can connect you to a scammer. Use the company’s actual website to search for the correct number.
• Keep a frequent check on your accounts and credit report.
• If something seems suspicious, it probably is. Hang up on the scammer immediately and contact the local police.

Detectives in the Financial Crimes Unit investigate reports of fraud, but if money is lost to foreign fraudsters, there is often little the police can do to recover the lost funds. The Hoover Police Department encourages residents to review these tips and take the time to speak with family members who may not be aware of these scams and may fall victim to them.

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