CRESTWOOD, Mo. (First Alert 4) – An 82-year-old woman was almost the victim of a $7,000 Bitcoin scam.
An employee at the Watson Gas Mart in Crestwood reportedly called police after overhearing the woman preparing to send $7,000 via a Bitcoin transaction while on the phone with someone claiming to be from Apple Support.
The responding officer intervened before the transaction was completed and helped the woman disconnect from the scammer. Authorities said that the suspect kept calling back after the call was ended.
Police said that they learned the woman had already lost $4,000 earlier in the day after the scammer directed her to buy gift cards at a Lowe’s store.
“This incident at the Watson Gas Mart is why we are working to educate both residents and businesses about fraud prevention,” said Business Resource Officer Matt Hill. “The employee recognized the warning signs, contacted police, and helped prevent this resident from losing thousands more dollars. Their actions made a real difference.”
The City of Crestwood launched a fraud prevention initiative in response to a rise in cases impacting local businesses and resources in April 2026.
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