The Denver Police Department is cautioning the public about a new scam involving cryptocurrency ATMs that has resulted in one victim losing $14,000. The scam follows similar patterns to past incidents, but scammers are now using cryptocurrency ATMs to obtain money from victims.
One victim received a call from someone claiming to be a DPD officer, stating that she had missed court and had a warrant for her arrest. The victim was instructed to pay thousands of dollars to avoid jail time and was directed to a nearby laundromat to deposit the “bail” money using the cryptocurrency option on a self-service banking kiosk.
After sending the initial amount requested, the victim was asked for more money. Ultimately, the victim lost $14,000 before realizing it was a scam. Denver police emphasize that they will never call individuals directly about warrants or request money.
DPD advises individuals to hang up if they receive calls like this and report them to local law enforcement. Residents of Denver can call 720-913-2000 and press 2, or file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office online.