New Jersey Residents Fall Victim to $54,000 Scam Involving Bitcoin and Cash Hand-Offs

Two residents in New Jersey have reported losing a combined total of $54,000 to scammers, as detailed in a recent police blotter from Franklin Township. The incidents occurred between August 30th and September 5th, highlighting the ongoing threat of financial scams.

In one case, a Somerset resident was assisting a family member with suspected account fraud when an unknown individual gained control of her computer. The scammer instructed her to deposit $29,500 into a Bitcoin account, which she did before realizing it was a scam. Additionally, the family member involved in the situation lost another $12,000 in the same scheme.

In a separate incident reported on September 2nd, a victim received a call from someone impersonating her bank, warning her about fraudulent transactions. Following the instructions, she withdrew $24,500 in cash and handed it over to a man in a white sedan, believing it was necessary to prevent the fraudulent transactions.

Another resident reported transferring $1,020 via Cash App after receiving texts that appeared to be from her bank. Franklin Township police are urging residents to verify any urgent money warnings by contacting their bank directly and to avoid making transactions based on unsolicited communications.