Bitcoin Scams Plaguing Upper Providence Area, Police Warn

UPPER PROVIDENCE, PA — Scams involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have proliferated around the Upper Providence area recently, local police warned.

Scammers typically find a way to deceive victims into depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs.

The funds are then immediately transferred to the criminal's untraceable wallet.

Scammers recently have been impersonating law enforcement officers, a common trick used by other types of scammers to generate a sense of urgency and anxiety that causes people to act rashly.

"No government agency or law enforcement entity will ever demand payment via a Bitcoin ATM," Upper Providence Police said. "Once your cash is converted to Bitcoin and sent via a QR code provided by the scammer, the money is gone instantly, and the chances of recovering it are very slim."

The elderly are often the targets of these scams, police said, and they're urged to remain on the phone with the scammer while the transaction is completed.

To report a Bitcoin or related scam, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.