Scam alert. Image courtesy: WPS
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) – The Wood County Sheriff’s Department is warning the public about a new widespread scam in which scammers pose as local bank representatives to extort money.
The Department would like to remind everyone that no bank, company, or governmental body will ever call a person to come take money out of an account or put it into a cryptocurrency machine.
Cryptocurrency machines can be found in gas stations throughout central Wisconsin and allow customers to buy cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin in exchange for US dollars.
The Wood County Sheriff’s Office was contacted on Wednesday by a person who had recently been scammed by someone claiming to be from their local bank and claiming to be cooperating with the FBI. A $9,000 balance was then withdrawn from the victim’s bank account and placed in a cryptocurrency machine in Wisconsin Rapids. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office carried out a search warrant on the machine yesterday, and the money was taken into evidence before being returned to the victim.
Recovery of monies in these situations is typically uncommon, thus authorities advise anyone who may have received such calls or anything similar to get in touch with their local law enforcement agency.
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