One Northville Township resident lost nearly $300,000 in a Bitcoin scam operation recently, prompting a warning from police authorities.Residents are being cautioned following a recent surge in fraudulent scams targeting unsuspecting individuals involving Bitcoin and even gold bricks, according to a prepared statement from police.
In these scams, perpetrators falsely represent themselves as law enforcement officials to intimidate victims into making immediate payments under false pretenses, police said. Victims usually receive calls from unknown individuals claiming to be police officers. These callers inform victims that they are under investigation for alleged crimes or have warrants for their arrest.
Victims are coerced into staying on the phone and are instructed not to disclose the situation to anyone. The caller often exerts pressure and demands immediate payment, typically requested as bitcoin or cash transfers.
In the recent Northville Township resident, suspects made contact with the victim multiple times, obtained nearly $300,000 in cash, Bitcoin and ultimately came to the victim’s home and retrieved where gold bricks, police said.
Email phishing cases are also on the rise during which victims receive an email and are misled into believing they have overpaid their PayPal or similar account. The victims are directed to provide immediate access to their accounts to rectify the supposed overpayment. In July, a resident became a victim to one of these emails phishing scams, resulting in the loss of $50,000 in cash and an additional $50,000 in Bitcoin.
In this case, too, the suspects came to the resident’s home to collect the payment then fled the area. Northville Township investigators utilized License Plate Reader (LPR) technology and the suspects were apprehended in Ohio and $50,000 recovered.
“We want to remind our residents that law enforcement agencies do not request payments over the phone, especially in the form of Bitcoin. If you receive a call or email claiming you are under investigation or have warrants, and the only way to resolve the issue is by making an immediate payment, it is undoubtedly a scam,” cautioned Northville Township Deputy Police Chief Matthew MacKenzie.
To safeguard against these fraudulent schemes, residents are cautioned to verify callers and remember that law enforcement agencies do not demand payments over the phone. Residents should cautious of unsolicited calls claiming legal issues requiring urgent payment and never grant remote access to your computer to unknown individuals.
If instructed to stay on the phone and not disclose the situation while making a payment, it is likely a scam, officials warned. Genuine entities do not pressure for immediate payments via unconventional methods such as Bitcoin or gift cards, they added. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious communications to local authorities promptly.
For further information or to report a potential scam, contact the Northville Township Police Department at (248) 349-9400.
