Greeneville Woman Scammed Out Of Nearly $25,000

A Jennifer Street woman reported Tuesday that she was scammed out of nearly $25,000.

The victim told the Greeneville Police Department she received an alert on her iPad stating that her Apple account had been blocked for security reasons and provided a phone number to call. The man who answered said her bank account had been hacked and $14,000 had been withdrawn. He told her that to get the money back, she would need to withdraw $25,000 from her bank account and deposit it in a bitcoin machine. She was then instructed to give the caller the numbers from the receipt from the bitcoin machine. She was able to deposit all but $100 of the $25,000.

The suspect then asked her to go to a separate bank to make another withdrawal. The victim realized at this point it was a scam and reported the incident.

How to Avoid Phone Scams

1. Verify the Caller: If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from a company or bank, hang up and call the official number of the organization to verify the claim.
2. Don’t Share Personal Information: Never give out personal information such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords over the phone unless you are sure of the caller’s identity.
3. Beware of Pressure Tactics: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions. Take your time to verify the information before taking any action.
4. Use Official Channels: Only use official websites and customer service numbers for communication. Do not trust contact information provided in unsolicited messages or calls.
5. Be Cautious with Unusual Payment Methods: Be wary of requests for payment through unconventional methods such as bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers, which are commonly used by scammers.
6. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common scams and tactics used by scammers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other consumer protection agencies offer resources to help you recognize and avoid scams.
7. Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scam, report it to your local police department and the FTC. Prompt reporting can help prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.