Lincoln Police are investigating a fraud that led to the loss of more than $260,000. LPD Public Information Manager Erika a 75-year-old woman called police on Monday to report that back in May she had called who she thought was Amazon Customer Service regarding a damaged item she received.
“The scammers kept referring her to different agencies, until ultimately, she thought she was speaking to someone at the Treasury Department who said her identity and social security number had been stolen,” Thomas says.
“Throughout the summer, she followed the scammer’s instructions to purchase Bitcoin and gold bars. She transferred the Bitcoin digitally, mailed the cash and the gold bars
were picked up from her home.”
Thomas says the woman purchased more than $200,000 in gold bars. “LPD wants to remind the public to proceed with caution when someone you don’t know requests payment and independently verify the identity of anyone claiming to be with a certain agency, organization or company,” Thomas says.
“Please talk with loved ones about the methods con artists use so they are aware of various types of scams.”