Bitcoin Scam Targets Westlake Residents

WESTLAKE, OH — Over a three-day span, several Westlake residents were targeted by scammers, all demanding payment with cryptocurrency.

Westlake police said some residents were mailed scam letters between May 1 and May 3. Each letter indicated the scammers had information about "illicit" online activity the resident had been engaging in. To keep the activities "secret" the residents would need to pay the letter writers. According to a copy of a letter provided to Patch, the scammers wanted $20,600 from their targets.

The scammers said they wanted payment in the form of Bitcoin — a cryptocurrency — and explained how residents can purchase and transfer the cryptocurrency. The letters even include a cheeky section where residents are told how to not get "scammed" while buying Bitcoin.

The letters never mention specific "illicit" activities, they simply paint a general picture. The scammers say they don't want to go into specifics in case the recipient's "wife" opens the letter on accident.

The letters were sent in stamped envelopes with no return address. Most of the letters were addressed to a resident, using only their first name and their address. However, some of the letters were addressed to former residents of a property.

Police said that no Westlake residents have reported falling victim to the scam. If a resident does receive the letter, they should ignore it and throw it away.

If anyone in the community has been victimized by the scam, they should contact Westlake police or the FBI at their Internet Crime Complaint Center.