Rose Crumbley was stocking shelves when she noticed an 85-year-old woman standing at a Bitcoin machine in Westlake, Ohio, with $18,000 in cash. The woman was still on the phone and believed she was working with her bank after receiving a text message about supposed charges on her Apple account, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Crumbley stepped in before the cash went into the machine. She called 911 and told police, “I have a lady up here attempting to be scammed.”
The woman kept the money. Police arrived before the transaction was completed, and the caller did not get the $18,000.
The case ended without a loss, but only because a store employee recognized what was happening at the machine and refused to let the call keep moving.
The Clerk Saw Her at the Bitcoin Machine
Crumbley told News 5 she saw the woman at the store’s Bitcoin machine while the woman was still on the phone. She warned her that once the cash went into the machine, it would not come back.
“And I told her if you put any money in that machine, you’re not going to get it back,” Crumbley said. “She’s like, ‘No, it’s my bank.’ And I said, ‘No, it’s not your bank.’”
The Text Claimed There Were Apple Charges
When Westlake police arrived, the woman said she had received a text message claiming there were charges on her Apple account. She called the number in the message, and the people on the phone told her they were helping cancel the charges.
“We’re going to call, and we’re going to get these canceled,” the woman told police. “So, they make it like they’re really working for me.”
The callers told her they were investigating the supposed charges and said she needed to withdraw $18,000 in cash. They also warned her not to tell anyone.
“Don’t say anything to anyone because then they’ll find out we’re checking on them and they won’t keep following through,” the woman told officers, according to News 5.
Crumbley Called 911 Before the Money Went In
Westlake police Capt. Jerry Vogel told News 5 that scammers often coach victims before they reach a bank, store, or police officer. “Scammers feed them all this information because they know they’re going to get questioned,” Vogel said.
Crumbley said employees at the store watch for suspicious activity around the Bitcoin machine and have stopped other people from being scammed there. She told News 5 the issue felt personal because a relative had been scammed several years ago.
“We have to look out for each other, especially our seniors, our elderly,” Crumbley said. “We just really have to look out for each other.”
Watch the News 5 Cleveland report on YouTube: Store clerk jumps in to help elderly woman, saves nearly $20K from being stolen.
Bitcoin Machines Are a Known Scam Payment Route
The FTC has warned that scammers use Bitcoin ATMs by telling people that depositing cash will protect their money or fix a fake problem. The FBI has also warned that criminals direct victims to cryptocurrency ATMs and QR codes to complete payments.
Ericka Dilworth, vice president of operations at the Cleveland BBB, told News 5 that victims should verify messages by checking with a local bank or asking a loved one for help, even when the caller tells them not to.
Anyone who receives a text about account charges should avoid calling the number in the message. Use the company’s official app, website, card number, or verified customer-service line before withdrawing cash or using a Bitcoin machine.
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