Bloomingdale police are warning the public about scammers stealing thousands of dollars from elderly residents in cryptocurrency-related scams.
The Associated Press, 2021
Bloomingdale police are warning people to beware after thieves stole almost $100,000 in cryptocurrency scams in the last two weeks.
The phone calls and emails have targeted senior citizens, according to Bloomingdale police Detective Dominick Corsiglia.
One victim had $63,000 stolen from him and was in the process of sending another $15,000 more when Bloomingdale Public Safety Director Frank Giammarese intervened.
The scammers have contacted the victims via email and phone.
Once the scammers get the victims on the phone, “they confuse them,” Giammarese said. The thieves stay on the phone with them as they direct the victims to get money, go to a cryptocurrency ATM and talk them through how to convert the cash to crypto and send it to them.
In one case, they pretended to be officials from PayPal, saying a woman’s account had a $1,000 fraudulent charge. She researched PayPal and called the first number that popped up. It was most likely a sponsored ad, which can then redirect to a scam number, according to Corsiglia.
The fraudsters managed to take control of her computer. The woman was instructed to withdraw $25,000 from her personal bank account to rectify the issues and regain access to her computer. She was directed to a Bitcoin ATM.
Giammarese, who happened to be at the store, recognized the scam after the woman had put in and sent $24,800. Police were unable to recover the money.
Another elderly resident received an email from an anti-virus software company saying he had been charged a $900 late fee and should call the company. The representative told him to send $3,000 to correct the issue. The senior then mistakenly sent $30,000 to the account provided. They then requested he send additional funds to receive that money back, and he ultimately lost $63,750.
Again, Giammarese intervened and convinced the man not to send an additional $15,000.
Other residents have reported receiving requests purportedly coming from Best Buy Geek Squad, Charles Schwab, Chase Bank, the Internal Revenue Service and the state tollway, according to Corsiglia. In some cases, they tried to blackmail the victims by saying they would tell the victims’ relatives and friends that the senior citizens were viewing pornography.
The thieves have told the victims how to answer questions if a bank official, such as a teller, asks why they are making a large cash withdrawal. The victims are told to say they need the cash for a large purchase such as a home repair or kitchen remodeling, Giammarese said.
There are at least 10 cryptocurrency ATMs renting spaces in businesses in Bloomingdale, Giammarese said. He said the businesses are not participants in the scams.
“No one (legitimate) is going to ask you to send cryptocurrency,” Giammarese said.
Corsiglia said senior citizens should slow down and think before sending money to unknown people. In addition, people should check on elderly loved ones, review their financial statements, and remind them that generosity can be easily manipulated.
If you believe you are being scammed, end the conversation and immediately call 911, Corsiglia said.
The FBI reported that in 2024, it received 149,686 complaints about cryptocurrency fraud, with $9.3 billion in reported losses.
The AARP has advocated nationwide for state laws that would set a daily cash limit on cryptocurrency ATMs and require machine owners to post signage regarding fraud.