A 72-year-old resident of Hays fell victim to an elaborate cryptocurrency scam, resulting in a loss of $7,000. The incident occurred on January 27, when the woman was coerced by scammers who falsely claimed they had hacked her phone. They alleged that they had found explicit content on her device and threatened to report her to the Department of Homeland Security unless she complied with their demands for payment in Bitcoin.
Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright reported that the woman was utilizing a Bitcoin machine located at 1301 Vine Street when she encountered Police Chief Don Scheibler. Upon speaking with him, she revealed the intimidation tactics employed by an individual with a foreign accent, which ultimately led her to transfer the initial $7,000 in Bitcoin earlier that day.
The situation escalated when the woman returned to the Bitcoin machine to establish an account for a planned additional transfer of $20,000, prompted by further threats from the scammers. However, Chief Scheibler intervened just in time to halt the transaction.
Authorities have assured the public that the woman did not possess any illegal material on her phone, emphasizing the nature of the scam. Police are warning community members to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes, which often prey on individuals by exploiting fears and leveraging technology.
