Don’t Fall For The Bitcoin Scam and Pop-Up Scam

The Dubuque Police Department is reminding the community to be cautious of internet-based communications from people you don’t know after they’ve taken several reports of Internet-based scams the last two months. The first is a Bitcoin ATM scam.  These scams typically begin with the victim meeting a scammer online and the scammer provides the victim with a QR code for a Bitcoin wallet and asks the victim to transfer a large sum of money, to the scammer which they will then withdraw via Bitcoin ATM. The second type of scam begins with scammers sending a Pop Up onto the victim’s computer advising the victim that their computer is compromised.  A phone number is provided for “Customer Support,” which calls the scammers.  The scammers then tell the victim their bank accounts have been compromised and they should withdraw all funds in cash and give it to a “representative” that will meet the victim in person.  These scammers have even gone so far as to tell the victims not to call their financial institution because the banks and credit unions are “in on it.”  If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.