A police officer discovered an ongoing fraud in which a Chase Bank impersonator deceived an older woman into withdrawing $40,000 and depositing it into a Bitcoin ATM.
The White Settlement Police Department (WSPD) reported on June 19 that officers were able to halt a fraud in its tracks. After witnessing an older woman deposit substantial sums of currency into a Bitcoin ATM, a concerned citizen contacted the dispatch center, according to the WSPD.
After listening to the woman’s phone conversation, the citizen suspects she is being defrauded.
Police Officer Interrupts Bitcoin ATM Scam
The suspect threatened the victim with arrest if she failed to transmit the funds, according to the WSPD. Scammers who indulge in pig butchering scams frequently employ this approach. Additionally, the victim was fraudulently led to believe that the caller ID read “Chase Bank” and that it was an employee.
Subsequently, the perpetrator arranged for a transportation service to transport the woman to a nearby Chase Bank, where she could withdraw the funds. Subsequently, the suspect directed her to a convenience store that featured a Bitcoin ATM, where she deposited the funds.
In the dashcam footage that the police department has disclosed, it is possible for an officer present to assume control of the conversation. The WSPD stopped the Chase Bank impersonator from attempting to converse with the victim and convince her to complete a transaction.
The woman had already deposited $23,900 into the crypto ATM while the police prevented additional damage. The authorities are collaborating with government officials to retrieve and restore the funds to the victim.
Sergeant James Stewart, the officer who responded to the call, expressed that he contemplated his mother as he observed the elderly casualty. He stated:
“All I could do is visualize my mom in this case. […] I wish we could find this guy and place him behind bars for a very long time because he is probably doing this to other people.”
In the interim, Chief of Police Christopher Cook expressed gratitude to the concerned citizen who reported the incident. At an upcoming council meeting, the department intends to honor the citizen.
