Colorado residents are falling victim to fake jury duty scams involving cryptocurrency, with significant financial losses reported. Law enforcement warns against these fraudulent calls.
A new wave of cryptocurrency scams has hit Colorado, with fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials to extort Bitcoin payments from unsuspecting residents. The latest incident involved a Keystone resident who lost over $6,000 after receiving a threatening call about missed jury duty. Local authorities are warning the public about these scams, which have resulted in significant financial losses across the state.
The scam typically begins with a phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer. The caller informs the victim that they have missed jury duty and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. The scammers use sophisticated phone spoofing technology to make the call appear legitimate, often displaying the number of a real police department.
Victims are pressured to make immediate payments through Bitcoin ATMs, with instructions provided by the scammers. In the recent case in Keystone, the victim was coerced into sending $6,000 in Bitcoin and was preparing to send an additional $4,000 when law enforcement intervened.
Colorado has seen a dramatic increase in cryptocurrency-related scams. In 2023 alone, state investigators documented over 1,300 cases, resulting in losses exceeding $81 million. This surge in fraud has placed Colorado 15th nationally for crypto-related crimes.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never request payments in cryptocurrency or gift cards to resolve legal issues. They have urged residents to be cautious and verify any suspicious calls by contacting the agency directly.
The Keystone incident is not isolated. In Denver, another victim lost nearly $5,000 after being convinced by scammers posing as police officers that she had missed jury duty. Following the scammers' instructions, she sent funds through a Bitcoin ATM, only to discover later that she had been defrauded.
In a separate incident, bank employees in Keystone successfully prevented a resident from transferring $8,000 in cryptocurrency after recognizing the signs of a scam during a transaction attempt.
In response to the rising number of scams, law enforcement agencies across Colorado are launching public awareness campaigns. They are educating residents about the tactics used by scammers and encouraging them to report any suspicious activity.
Banking institutions are also stepping up their efforts to train staff on identifying potential scam victims. Enhanced verification processes are being implemented for large cryptocurrency transactions to help prevent further losses.
As cryptocurrency scams continue to evolve, residents of Colorado are urged to remain vigilant. The combination of aggressive tactics and the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions makes these scams particularly dangerous. Authorities stress that if you receive a call demanding payment for missed jury duty or any other legal issue, it is crucial to hang up and verify the information through official channels. By staying informed and cautious, residents can protect themselves from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
