The Attorney General’s Office is warning older Arizonans to be on high alert for a new wave of bitcoin scams. Richie Taylor is the communications director with the AG.
"We are hearing that seniors are being called by people who are claiming to be working on an investigation, asking the senior telling the senior that their their accounts may have been compromised, and that they need to act with urgency and remove money from their accounts, and and wire it in Bitcoin or other digital currency to protect their money," Taylor said.
Taylor says these kinds of calls are on the rise. And if you get a call like that, be sure to verify the caller’s legitimacy by directly contacting the organization they claim to represent.
He also says a government agency will never ask someone to withdraw funds to send via Bitcoin or other digital currency.
From the Arizona Attorney General's Office:
If you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud file a consumer complaint by visiting azag.gov/consumer.
If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at 602-542-5763, in Tucson at 520-628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 800-352-8431.
If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, get help from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by visiting identitytheft.gov
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is committed to protecting seniors and vulnerable adults from abuse of any kind. To report an emergency, call 911. For non-emergency physical abuse contact Adult Protective Services at 1-877-SOS-ADULT (1-877-767-2385). For more information visit: www.azag.gov/seniors/senior-abuse.
