Houston cryptocurrency scam cases rising as more rush to invest, FBI says (2024)
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A sophisticated and somewhat complicated scam has the phones at the FBI ringing off the hook.
When it comes to the latest crypto investment scam, the FBI says suspects are tricking people into believing they are missing out on big Bitcoin bucks, and agents are seeing "exponential" growth in the Houston area.
Federal agents warn that thieves are setting up a fake website, advertising a new cryptocurrency.
According to the FBI, that website usually has lots of information on it and looks sophisticated, clean, and legitimate.
The only problem is that the supposed cryptocurrency they're advertising is fake.
Keep in mind, the FBI stresses these thieves are betting on victims not knowing much about this type of digital payment system or how it works.
Next, the scammers will reach out to you by email, phone, social media, or even through a friend.
"They will start with just a small dollar amount. They'll say, 'Give me $5,000,' and they will show the made-up websites and apps where they're able to track their investment," Heith Janke, FBI assistant special agent in charge of the Houston division, said. "It will show they're receiving great returns, and then they will say, 'Now give me $50,000. Now give me $100,000,' and they go and do that until they bleed the person out of their entire savings, and then they disappear."
Don't fall for it. It's a scam.
The FBI urges you to delete the email, hang up the phone, and close out social media.
Last year, this crypto-scam costed victims billions of dollars in the U.S. and $300 million in Texas
If this has happened to you, call the FBI. There are special agents dedicated to this type of crime.
Houston cryptocurrency scam cases rising as more rush to invest, FBI says. The FBI is warning Houstonians of a cryptocurrency scam that is swindling thousands of dollars from victims. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK
KTRK
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FBI Warns of Rising Government Impersonation Scams Demanding Crypto. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Portland Division warned the public this week about a surge in scammers impersonating FBI agents and other government officials, demanding cash, gold, or cryptocurrency payments.
No legitimate business or government will ever email, text, or message you on social media to ask for money. And they will never demand that you buy or pay with cryptocurrency. Never click on a link from an unexpected text, email, or social media message, even if it seems to come from a company you know.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of a Cryptocurrency Scam. Report the crime to your local police department. File a report with the FBI. Make sure to include your wallet address (the digital address where you store your cryptocurrency), the scammer's wallet address, and the transaction hash for each transaction.
If you're a victim of online crime, don't give up. Visit IC3, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Your tips help the FBI track down cyber criminals around the world. Report your crime to www.IC3.gov today.
Is cryptocurrency a safe investment? Compared to other asset classes such as stocks and government bonds, investing in cryptocurrency can be considered very risky.
Cryptocurrency payments typically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction.
If you've transferred money to someone because of a scam
This type of scam is known as an 'authorised push payment'. Your bank or building society should reimburse you if it's registered with the Lending Standards Board under their Contingent Reimbursem*nt Model Code (CRM Code).
This could be as simple as creating a website intending to defraud visitors out of their Bitcoin. Depending on the amount defrauded, defendants face between 1 and 30 years in prison, and $1,000 to $10,000 in fines.
NEW YORK (AP) — Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
Even after settling a $4.3 billion lawsuit with the U.S. government in the fall and pleading guilty to money laundering, he remains the richest person in the cryptocurrency space.
Yes, it is possible to recover scammed cryptocurrency with legal action. However, it's essential to understand that crypto scam recovery services are not included in cryptocurrency tracing, which aims only to identify payment paths on the blockchain.
You may be able to recover your losses through a lawsuit or arbitration claim if your losses were caused by a company's negligence. Our cryptocurrency lawsuit attorneys can help you understand your rights and your potential for recovery.
The FBI warns Americans against using cryptocurrency money transmitting services that are not registered as Money Services Businesses ( MSB ) according to United States federal law ( 31 U.S.C.
The FBI warns Americans against using cryptocurrency money transmitting services that are not registered as Money Services Businesses ( MSB ) according to United States federal law ( 31 U.S.C.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, is the Nation's central hub for reporting cyber crime. It is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating cyber crime. Here on our website, you can take two vital steps to protecting cyberspace and your own online security.
We would never initiate a call via phone. If an email was sent to your spam/junk folder, then please verify the real sender of the email by looking at the email's headers. Do not open links or files from emails you receive, or in general, from unknown sources.
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