Merrimac Police Investigate Bitcoin Scam, Theft Of $28,000 And Warn Community To Be Careful

MERRIMAC – Police Chief Eric M. Shears reports that the Merrimac Police Department is investigating an incident in which a Merrimac resident was defrauded of $28,000 and is warning the public about the proliferation of such scams.

On April 27, a 65-year-old Merrimac resident contacted police because she realized she had been defrauded of $28,000.

The resident had been shopping online when she clicked on a link and began receiving alerts claiming to be scam alerts, telling her to call a specific phone number.

When the resident called the number, the resident was told to download an application, that funds had been mistakenly transferred to her bank account, and that she would need to contact the bank to arrange for the error to be corrected. It is believed that the application that the resident was asked to download allowed the fraudsters to access the resident’s personal information, which was then used to further the fraud.

Via a series of phone calls that were faked to make it look like the resident was dealing with her actual bank, the scammers then convinced the resident to withdraw money from her bank account and then go to a nearby Bitcoin ATM and put in a total of $28,000 to correct the alleged bank error.

It was only later that the resident realized she had fallen victim to a scam and contacted Merrimac Police.

“Scams like this are tragic because they target and take advantage of elderly residents, who are often on limited incomes and dependent on their savings,” said Chief Shears. “A key point to remember when trying to protect yourself from such scams is that few legitimate businesses will have you send payment via bitcoin, gift card or wire transfer.”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers the following four signs to help people recognize possible scams:

• Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know. They can use a real name, such as the Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare, or make up an official-sounding name. Some pretend to be from a business you know, such as an energy company, a technology company, or even a charity asking for donations.
• Scammers say there is a problem or a prize. They may say that you are in trouble with the authorities, that you owe money, that someone in your family had an emergency, or that there is a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there is a problem with one of your accounts and you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you’ve won money in a lottery or sweepstakes, but have to pay a fee to get it.
• Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may tell you not to hang up so you can’t check their history. They can threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license or deport you. They may say that your computer is about to be destroyed.
• Scammers tell you to pay in a certain way. They often insist that you pay by sending money through bitcoin, a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Someone will send you a check (which will later turn out to be fake), ask you to deposit it, and then send them money.

The FTC also advises that if you receive an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s genuine, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is reliable or look up their phone number. Do not call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.

“Scams like this are becoming more and more complex, but a common part of these scams is that they try to pressure people into sending payments quickly,” Detective Inspector Stephen Beaulieu said. “We encourage anyone who receives this type of call or communication to slow down, take a deep breath and contact friends, family members or the Merrimac Police Department for advice on what the next step should be.”

Residents who believe they may have been the victim of such a scam, or who believe they may be communicating with potential scammers, are encouraged to contact the Merrimac Police Department at 978-346-8321.