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Albemarle County officials warn of steep rise in cryptocurrency scams targeting older residents
Summary
Local and federal law-enforcement speakers told a public briefing that cryptocurrency-enabled scams have surged in Albemarle County and across Virginia, with elderly residents frequently targeted and rapid reporting to IC3 urged to improve chances of recovery.
Albemarle County law-enforcement officials and an FBI representative on Tuesday warned of a sharp rise in cryptocurrency-enabled fraud that has cost local residents and highlighted steps victims should take to improve the chances of recovery.
A county representative said the locality has seen about a 175% increase in scam and fraud calls compared with the previous year and estimated nearly $250,000 in reported losses over the past 12 months. “This time last year, we’ve seen approximately a 175% increase in scam and fraud calls that are being reported to us,” the speaker said.
The briefing described a pattern in which perpetrators use urgent-sounding phone calls that impersonate law enforcement, bank staff or a family member to pressure…
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