South Windsor Cops Investigating Elaborate Bitcoin Scam

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — South Windsor police on Tuesday were warning residents about a bitcoin scam that stretched to police and banking impersonation.

Police said they received a call from a resident on Nov. 14 about a potential scam involving bitcoin. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency not tied to a central bank. It can be transferred along a peer-to-peer network without a bank.

The resident told police she received a phone call stating the "federal government was looking for her," according to a report. A man on the phone provided the resident with her Social Security number and stated it was currently being used by a "female in El Paso, TX," according to a report.

She was then connected to a woman who identified herself as a Manchester police officer, who then "advised the victim she needed to cooperate," according to a report.

The original voice then told the woman he needed her to confirm her identity by
having her withdraw money from her bank accounts and send it via bitcoin from a bitcoin
machine at a convenience store in Manchester, according to a report.

"As a reminder, any citizen can contact their local police department to confirm if they are
wanted," police said. "In addition to this, law enforcement agencies never accept money or bitcoin in lieu of a surrender. Please report any suspicious phone calls or activity to your local
police department."