• The FBI has released a report showing that Colorado residents have been major targets of crypto criminals who have stolen millions of dollars.
• Scams typically involve stable assets such as Tether and USD Coin (USDC) and involve fraudsters setting up fictitious support sites to steal money from unsuspecting victims.
• Victims are typically approached on social media, dating apps or discussion forums with cryptocurrency investment opportunities.
Crypto Criminals Targeting Colorado Residents
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently issued a report detailing the theft of millions of dollars from crypto traders and everyday residents in Colorado. Scammers primarily target people looking to invest in stable assets such as Tether and USD Coin (USDC).
Common Scam Tactics
In many cases, scammers will approach victims through social media platforms, dating apps or discussion forums claiming to offer cryptocurrency investment opportunities. They then link them to phony websites under their control where it appears profits are rising and portfolios look promising. Once the victim sends funds, the scammer disappears with the money.
Recent Examples of Colorado Victims
The FBI gave five recent examples of Colorado residents being targeted by scams involving Tether, resulting in total losses over $4 million. These include a 52-year-old man from Aurora losing over $600K; a 61-year-old woman in Denver losing $1.3 million; a 62-year-old man in Evergreen losing $350K; and a pair in their late 40s in Parker losing $1.2 million.
Advice From the FBI
The FBI advises not to fall for these types of scams – if you send cryptocurrency or any kind of money it will be gone forever and there is no way for you to get it back. It’s important to remember that anyone offering advice on investments or help investing should not be trusted as they could be fraudsters trying to take your money away from you.
Conclusion
Crypto criminals have been targeting unsuspecting Colorado residents with elaborate scams involving stable assets like Tether and USDC, leading to the theft of millions across multiple cases highlighted by the FBI’s new report. Always exercise caution when considering crypto investments – if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!