MARYLAND STATE POLICE URGES CONSUMERS TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST TELEPHONE SCAMS RELATED TO BITCOIN & GIFT CARDS

Salisbury, MD - Maryland State Police remind consumers to exercise extreme caution when receiving phone calls or electronic notifications from sources about purchasing or using gift cards or depositing money into a Bitcoin ATM to urgently pay for supposed services or debts.

Maryland State Police at Salisbury Barrack have recently received reports for fraudulent activities requesting individuals to buy gift cards and disclose the card numbers. Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers off the back of the card.

Only scammers create urgent situations to convince victims to act quickly by withdrawing cash from their bank accounts and deposit into a Bitcoin ATM using a QR code that links to the scammers' wallet. Police want our community members to beware and know that a legitimate business or government agency will not tell you to buy a gift card to pay them.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers over the age of 60 were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report losing money to these type scams. The FTC reported a massive increase in Bitcoin ATM scams, with $110 million scammed last year. This year alone, the figure has already reached $65 million just in the first half. If we compare this to 2020, there's been a tenfold increase in scams...isn't that alarming?

If you receive such a phone call or an email from someone claiming to be a government or business entity requesting immediate action to purchase gift cards to be used as payment or Bitcoin deposits....IT'S A SCAM!

Key points to remember to avoid being scammed:

• SLOW DOWN! Scammers want to rush you, so stop and check it out. Before you do anything else, talk with someone you trust.
• Never click on links or respond directly to unexpected calls, messages, or computer pop-ups. If you think it could be legitimate, contact the company or agency, and look up their number or website yourself. Don't use the phone number the caller or message provides to you.
• Never withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message. Only scammers will tell you to do that.
• Don't believe anyone who says you need to use a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards, or move money
• to protect it or fix a problem. Real businesses and government agencies will never do that - and anyone who asks is a scammer.
• Only purchase gift cards from reputable retailers and never give out gift card numbers.
• Verify the source: If someone contacts you asking for a gift card, verify their identity independently before taking action.
• Inspect the card before purchase: Check for any signs of tampering on the gift card packaging, including damaged seals or visible PINs.
• Report suspicious activity: If you believe you are being targeted by a scammer, report it to the relevant authorities and the gift card company immediately.
• Keep your gift card receipts: to assist with potential fraud claims.
• Educate your loved ones, especially seniors: about gift card scams.

Source: Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack E Press Release