Scammers in Sheriff's Disguises Drain Residents of Thousands via Bitcoin ATMs

Warning signs are being placed on Bitcoin ATMs in Montgomery County after residents lost thousands of dollars to scammers posing as sheriff's deputies. The fraudsters contact victims by phone, claiming they owe court-related payments and directing them to make a payment via Bitcoin ATM.

The scheme relies on impersonation to pressure victims into acting quickly, often with the promise that a warrant will be issued if the payment isn't made immediately. Once money is transferred through a cryptocurrency machine, it cannot be traced or reversed.

Montgomery County District Attorney Steele and Sheriff Kilkenny have both issued public statements alerting residents to the fraud and emphasizing that their office never contacts residents by phone to demand money for warrants or other reasons.

Steele warned that any request for cryptocurrency to settle a court matter should be treated as a major warning sign, and that no legitimate court or law enforcement body will ever demand payment through a Bitcoin machine or any other cryptocurrency ATM.