Macomb County Senior Scammed Out of $30K in Bitcoin Internet Scheme

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – She believed she was securing a bargain from a customer service representative of a company she trusted.

Unfortunately, a Macomb County woman has come forward to Local 4 regarding a scam that drained more than $30,000 from her.

This is yet another tragic occurrence of scammers exploiting senior citizens to pilfer their savings.

Scammers are well aware that people are eager to save money nowadays, and this was certainly true for a Roseville woman named Rosalie.

Rosalie decided to share her experience to help others avoid a similar fate.

The ordeal began when she received an email informing her that she had enrolled in home internet security protection. When she attempted to cancel, things took a turn for the worse.

“He tells me, ‘You need to contact your bank and withdraw $7,000 in cash,’” Rosalie recounted.

The fraudster on the line requested her banking details, leading to a swift depletion of her funds.

“At that point, we withdrew an additional $9,000. Now we’re down $25,000,” Rosalie lamented.

Withdrawals were executed, cash was dispatched, and she was instructed to visit a Bitcoin ATM.

Ultimately, over $30,000 was transferred to the scammer.

“He had me telling lies to everyone. ‘Keep this secret, don’t say that. This is what you should say,’” Rosalie shared.

In a cruel twist, the scammer pretended to refund some of the money he had stolen, orchestrating yet another component of his elaborate scheme.

“He transferred the funds from my savings account to my checking account to make it appear that he had returned the money,” Rosalie explained.

Authorities are now investigating the manipulation that targeted Rosalie.

Officials warn that terms like “Deposit at a Bitcoin ATM” or “Purchase gift cards” as a payment method are major red flags. It’s critical to ignore these scammers and alert the police instead.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new warning following another incident where someone lost significant money in a scam involving a Bitcoin ATM.

Nessel released an official alert on Tuesday (April 8).

“Because money sent through Bitcoin ATMs is nearly impossible to recover and these machines lack oversight and regulation, they have become an attractive option for criminals engaged in fraud and money laundering.”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Recently, Troy police reported that a 79-year-old woman fell victim to a scam that involved a Bitcoin ATM.

She received a text regarding charges to her Apple account, called the provided number, and was instructed to speak with a supervisor.

The impersonated supervisor advised her to withdraw $12,500 from her bank account and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine.

Nessel’s office reported that the scammer requested a receipt or QR code for the transaction, but by then it was too late.

Key Takeaways:

1. No legitimate company or government agency will ever instruct you to deposit money into a Bitcoin account.

2. Be cautious of urgent requests. If the person on the other end is pushing you to act quickly, terminate the conversation. Your actual bank will never pressure you.

3. Do not trust caller ID. Scammers can manipulate the number that appears on your phone to pose as a legitimate company.

4. If you suspect you are being scammed, do not hesitate to report it to your local police, sheriff, or the attorney general’s consumer protection team at 517-335-7599.