Middlesex Sheriff Warns of Bitcoin Scam Targeting Residents

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian is sounding the alarm about a bitcoin scam that targeted a Medford resident, resulting in a loss of $7,500.

The victim received a call from an individual claiming to be from law enforcement, stating they had a warrant for the resident's arrest due to failure to show up for jury duty. The impersonator then sent a text with a fake warrant and instructed the victim to pay a fine via bitcoin.

Koutoujian emphasized that legitimate law enforcement officials will never threaten arrest or demand payment over the phone, stating 'These perpetrators are using the fear of arrest to convince residents to pay thousands of dollars to avoid incarceration.'

Buckley noted that billions of dollars are lost annually to scams like these and that scammers often target vulnerable members in the community.