NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – Four gas stations in Neenah are now displaying fraud warning flyers after an uptick in scams involving Bitcoin ATMs inside the establishments.
Bitcoin ATMs allow users to deposit cash and convert it into digital currency, often sending it to a designated digital wallet. While these machines are legal and commonly used for cryptocurrency transactions, scammers have increasingly taken advantage of them to exploit victims across Winnebago County.
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According to the Neenah Police Department, scammers often pose as law enforcement officers, government officials, or tech support workers from companies like Microsoft. They create a sense of urgency by claiming there’s a warrant out for arrest, a family member in danger, or a hacked bank account—then instruct the victim to transfer money through a Bitcoin ATM.
“We have taken numerous complaints of all the above examples,” the department said in a statement. “Because of this, Winnebago County law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with local businesses, have teamed up with a proactive approach and begun placing these ‘STOP! IT COULD BE A SCAM!’ signs near these Bitcoin ATMs.”
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Officials are encouraging individuals with knowledge of cryptocurrency and scams to speak with older relatives, who are often targeted in these schemes.
For more information about how to spot and avoid scams, click here.
