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Deputies warn of scams using Bitcoin after Martin County family loses $16K

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the community to be vigilant when it comes to scam calls. Officials say one family has lost $16,000 through Bitcoin after being scammed by someone posing as an attorney. “Received a phone call stating that their grandchild was in trouble, that they hurt someone in a vehicle accident and that they needed bond money,” Sergeant David Yun of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office told WPBF 25 News. Deputies say while scam calls have been an ongoing issue, there has been a recent uptick in calls across Florida.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsAs for this one family, officials say that the scammer was on the phone with them and guided them on how to open up a Bitcoin account so they could deposit money. “After the fact, they made contact with family members and realized that it was a scam,” Yun said. Deputies call this type of scam the “Grandparent Scheme” and remind families that if this happens to them, to slow down and contact their family members first. Officials also provided an example of what a scam call could sound like. “Hey, this is so and so, your grandson or your grandchild or somebody posing as an attorney saying that so and so is in trouble, they did this or that. They were in an accident, they hurt somebody, and they need bond money this is how you can send us money to help them out,” Yun said. And another reminder, deputies will never call you about an arrest warrant and try to get you to pay your way out of it. “We will not make it a practice to let you know you have a warrant. So, if you have a warrant, we’re not going to call you, we’re not going to request any money,” Yun said. If you believe you have received a scam call, jot down the number, save any voice messages and contact your local law enforcement agencies as soon as possible.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the community to be vigilant when it comes to scam calls. Officials say one family has lost $16,000 through Bitcoin after being scammed by someone posing as an attorney.

“Received a phone call stating that their grandchild was in trouble, that they hurt someone in a vehicle accident and that they needed bond money,” Sergeant David Yun of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office told WPBF 25 News.

Deputies say while scam calls have been an ongoing issue, there has been a recent uptick in calls across Florida.

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

As for this one family, officials say that the scammer was on the phone with them and guided them on how to open up a Bitcoin account so they could deposit money.

“After the fact, they made contact with family members and realized that it was a scam,” Yun said.

Deputies call this type of scam the “Grandparent Scheme” and remind families that if this happens to them, to slow down and contact their family members first.

Officials also provided an example of what a scam call could sound like.

“Hey, this is so and so, your grandson or your grandchild or somebody posing as an attorney saying that so and so is in trouble, they did this or that. They were in an accident, they hurt somebody, and they need bond money this is how you can send us money to help them out,” Yun said.

And another reminder, deputies will never call you about an arrest warrant and try to get you to pay your way out of it.

“We will not make it a practice to let you know you have a warrant. So, if you have a warrant, we’re not going to call you, we’re not going to request any money,” Yun said.

If you believe you have received a scam call, jot down the number, save any voice messages and contact your local law enforcement agencies as soon as possible.

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