FBI Warns of 4 Cryptocurrency Fraud Schemes tied to COVID-19
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning that fraudsters
are leveraging increased fear and uncertainty during the
COVID-19 pandemic to steal money and launder it through the
complex cryptocurrency ecosystem.
According to a release from the FBI, Developments in
cryptocurrency technology and an increasing number of businesses
accepting it as payment have driven the growing popularity and
accessibility of cryptocurrency.
The FBI warns people of all ages are being victimized by
criminals through cryptocurrency-related fraud schemes.
The FBI is warning citizens to be on the lookout for an increase
in the following cryptocurrency fraud schemes related to
COVID-19:
Blackmail Attempts. Threatening emails or letters in
which scammers claim to have access to your personal information
or knowledge of your “dirty secrets” and demand payment in
Bitcoin to prevent release of this information have been
circulating for years. With the advent of COVID-19, there is a
new twist on this scam. The correspondence claims that the
writer will both release your information and infect you and/or
your family with coronavirus unless payment is sent to a Bitcoin
wallet.
Work from Home Scams. Scammers, posing as employers, may
ask you to accept a “donation” of funds into your own bank
account and to deposit them into a crypto kiosk. The so-called
“donation” is likely money stolen from others. Your acceptance
and transfer of the stolen money is considered illegal money
mule activity and potentially unlicensed money transmission.
Paying for Non-Existent Treatments or Equipment. Scammers
have been known to lure customers from trusted e-commerce sites
offering products that claim to prevent COVID-19 onto unrelated
and unregulated messaging sites to accept payment in
cryptocurrencies for products that do not actually exist.
Investment Scams. Criminals often pitch fraudulent
investments in a “new” and developing cryptocurrency, such as an
initial coin offering (ICO) or other investment vehicle to take
a victim’s money. These scams typically involve scenarios that
seem “too good to be true”—offering large monetary returns for a
short-term, small investment. The reality is that scammers steal
the investment money for personal use and utilize the
complexities of cryptocurrency to hide the true destination of
the stolen funds.
The FBI says pressure to use a virtual currency should be
considered a significant red flag.
- Verify that a vendor/charity is legitimate and accepts cryptocurrency before sending payments/donations.
- Conduct extensive research on potential investment opportunities.
- Do not use your personal bank accounts for work-from-home business-related activity or provide your bank account information to someone who is not named on the account.
- The FBI says to contact law enforcement before paying out blackmail and/or extortion attempts and before converting your money into cryptocurrency to pay them.
The FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division has an entire team
dedicated to preventing and combating cryptocurrency money
laundering and frauds.
If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, or if you want to
report suspicious activity, please contact the Albuquerque FBI
Division at 505-889-1300 or visit the FBI’s Internet Crime
Complaint Center at ic3.gov.