Web Desk
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A 73-year-old Lancaster County woman lost $10,000 in a Bitcoin scam after falling for a fake Apple security alert, authorities reported.
On Tuesday night, a deputy responded to a fraud report at a rural home, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman told law enforcement she received a pop-up alert on her computer that appeared to be from Apple security.
The alert instructed her to call a listed phone number, which she did. The person on the other end claimed foreign hackers were trying to link her computer to a child pornography ring and demanded $25,000 to prevent it.
In a panic, the woman withdrew $10,000 from her bank. She attempted to take out more, but the bank restricted further withdrawals.
She then deposited the $10,000 into a Bitcoin ATM as instructed by the scammer.
The fraudster demanded the remaining $15,000 the next day, urging her to return to the bank. At that point, she became suspicious and contacted law enforcement.
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin reiterated that scams involving Bitcoin ATMs are fraudulent.
Regrettably, we must address this issue once more. Any individual who instructs you to transfer funds to a Bitcoin ATM is engaging in fraudulent activity, stated Houchin.
