$17,000 stolen in cryptocurrency scam, sheriff’s office partially recovers funds
– The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a cryptocurrency scam that occurred in Los Osos, resulting in the loss of approximately $17,000.
On Sept. 12, 2022, victims reported receiving a phone call from a man claiming that a family member had been arrested out of the area and needed money for bail and related expenses. The victims were directed to local cryptocurrency ATM machines where they deposited cash and sent photographs of the receipts to the scammer. The receipts contained information allowing the suspect to gain control of the funds.
Detectives from the sheriff’s major crimes unit launched an investigation and determined the funds had been converted to Bitcoin, which allowed them to trace the transactions to a major cryptocurrency exchange.
After a two-year investigation, on Sept. 10, 2024, detectives, in cooperation with the cryptocurrency exchange, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, partially recovered and returned approximately $4,700 to the victims.
If you receive something suspicious like a pop-up on your computer saying you have been hacked or a phone call demanding money, contact the sheriff’s office to speak with law enforcement so they can hopefully prevent any loss. Please inform your family and friends about this scam so they can be prepared in the event this happens to them.
For more information or to report a suspicious incident, contact the sheriff’s office at (805) 781-4547.
