State police are alerting people and businesses about a scam involving a cryptocurrency and gift cards that has been going through the county.
Victims are usually contacted by phone call or text message and are tricked into either purchasing gift cards or to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM. The incidents were first reported to State Police in October of 2021, when two Indiana County businesses were cheated out of a combined $40,000 after they were told to withdraw cash and deposit it in a Bitcoin ATM in Westmoreland County. Another case was reported recently with a business in White Township lost $14,658 after an employee was contacted and advised to deposit that money into a White Township Bitcoin ATM.
Numerous residents have also been contacted by scammers who have been able to get between $100 and $20,000 in each case. The people are convinced to buy gift cards and then provide the scammers with the gift card numbers.
Troopers say that residents and business owners should discuss the scams with their family and employees. If there is any question on whether something is a scam, people are advised to contact their financial institution, a law enforcement agency, or the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office. Seniors can also contact Aging Services at 724-349-4500 for further assistance. Tips on how to avoid falling victim to these scams can also be found through the Federal Trade Commission website.
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