Two Jefferson County residents lose over $30,000 to Bitcoin ATM scams involving fraudulent security alerts and deputy impersonation

Summary

Two Jefferson County residents lost over $30,000 in Bitcoin-related scams on July 1. The first victim, after receiving a fraudulent McAfee security alert, deposited $2,000 at a Bitcoin ATM off Highway 90. The second victim was targeted by a scammer posing as a deputy and lost $30,000 after making three ATM transactions at locations on College Street and Eastex Freeway. Law enforcement was unable to recover the funds, as the money was immediately disbursed after each transaction. In a separate case in Jasper County on June 16, a family lost $25,000 in a Bitcoin ATM scam, but authorities recovered $31,900 from the machine before the funds could be dispersed. Sheriff Zena Stephens emphasized that scams often involve impersonation and urgency, and that no legitimate law enforcement agency demands payment via Bitcoin.