Monroe, MI – Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough is alerting residents about a sharp rise in cryptocurrency scams impacting individuals and businesses. Scammers are exploiting cryptocurrency’s popularity to trick victims into transferring funds or disclosing personal information.
Sheriff Goodnough has assigned a detective with specialized training to investigate cryptocurrency-related crimes. The sheriff highlighted five prevalent scam tactics in Monroe County: cryptocurrency ATM fraud, phishing, tech support scams, lottery and prize scams, and romance scams.
According to Goodnough, cryptocurrency ATM fraud involves scammers instructing victims to use ATMs to convert cash into cryptocurrency, which is then sent to the scammers’ accounts. Legitimate businesses will never request such transactions. Phishing scams, fake tech support calls, and romance scams also pose significant threats, targeting victims’ financial and personal information.
Sheriff Goodnough urged residents to immediately contact their bank or a cryptocurrency exchange if scammed. Reporting incidents to law enforcement can help in potentially recovering funds and preventing further crime.
Goodnough stressed caution, advising, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Residents are encouraged to stay informed, protect their personal data, and report any suspicious activity.
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