BEVERLY — Chief John G. LeLacheur is proud to report that the Beverly Police Department, working in collaboration with Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s Office, recovered more than $21,000 in cash that was lost by senior residents to bitcoin scams. The department is in the process of returning the money to victims.
This is believed to be one of the first times in Essex County that funds have been recovered and returned to victims of such scams.
Late last year, three Beverly residents, ages 80, 83, and 90, lost thousands of dollars each to what is commonly known as a bitcoin scam, in which victims are tricked into depositing cash into bitcoin ATM machines for fraudulent reasons.
The residents reported these incidents quickly, giving Beverly Police valuable time to obtain warrants to seize bitcoin machines where money had been deposited. Police then worked with Essex County District Attorney’s Office to go to court and have the funds in the machines held and returned to victims.
Bitcoin machines are often emptied daily.
“It was absolutely critical that these scams were reported within 24 hours of the time residents were victimized,” said Chief LeLacheur. “Once that cash has been emptied out, there is little police or prosecutors can do to get the cash returned.”
On Jan. 21, a court awarded $21,020 in seized funds to the Beverly Police Criminal Investigation Division. The money is in the state’s possession and is being returned to its rightful owners. Beverly Police recently presented one victim with a check for their lost funds, and they will soon be presenting checks to two other victims.
The Beverly Police Department would like to recognize Detective Capt. Michael Devlin, Detective Shawn Desmond, and staff from the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker, including Deputy Chief of Appeals David O’Sullivan, Investigator Jim Carney, and Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Patalano and Emily Mello. The Department would also like to recognize Mark Sanders of the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) for his vital assistance.
In addition to the more than $21,000 in funds recently ordered returned to victims, the Beverly Police Department has seized more than $150,000 that has not yet been ordered returned by courts. The department continues to work with District Attorney Tucker’s Office to have those funds returned as well.
The Beverly Police Department provides the following safety tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help residents recognize and prevent scams such as Bitcoins scams, which have stolen millions of dollars in cash from residents statewide.
- Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
- Scammers say there’s a problem or prize. They might say you’re in trouble with the government, that you owe money, that someone in your family had an emergency, or that there’s a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
- Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
- Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. They often insist that you pay by sending money through Bitcoin, a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.
The FTC also recommends that if you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy, or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.
Residents who believe they may have fallen victim to such a scam, or who believe they may be communicating with would-be scammers, are encouraged to immediately contact the Beverly Police Department at 978-922-1212.
