The Crestwood Police Department recently launched its fraud prevention initiative to combat rising concerns over scams targeting residents and local businesses.
An 82-year-old woman almost fell victim to a Bitcoin scam after being targeted by scammers who demanded she send $7,000 through a Bitcoin transaction.
A gas station clerk recognized suspicious signs during the phone call with the scammer and immediately called police. Officer Andrew Gift responded to the scene and intervened before the transaction could be completed.
The suspect had already successfully obtained $4,000 from the woman earlier in the day by directing her to purchase gift cards at a Lowe's store in St. Louis.
Crestwood Police warn that legitimate organizations will never demand payments through gift cards or cryptocurrency, and urge businesses to be vigilant for suspicious activity such as large gift card purchases or significant cryptocurrency transactions.