Leawood Police Recover $19K from Cryptocurrency Scam: How to Protect Yourself

Leawood Police's Successful Recovery

Leawood police have successfully recovered over $19,000 for a victim of a cryptocurrency scam after tracing and seizing the funds. The victim was deceived into purchasing cryptocurrency at a "Bitcoin ATM" as part of the fraudulent scheme.

The department has reported tracing, seizing, and recovering stolen funds from such scams more than a dozen times, totaling over $1 million.

Tips to Avoid Cryptocurrency Scams

Leawood police advise the public to be cautious and provide the following tips to avoid falling victim to scams:

• Be wary of someone claiming to represent a company you already use, offering better rates or stating you owe the company money.
• Avoid promises of exceptional investment opportunities with high returns, such as "100% return" or "double your money."
• Watch out for individuals claiming to be from the government or law enforcement who threaten penalties.
• Be cautious of messages from someone pretending to represent your bank, urging immediate action to protect your funds or move your money.
• Be skeptical of developing relationships with individuals who eventually request money.
• If you receive an electronic message asking you to pay with cryptocurrency, it may be a scam.