Federal prosecutors are seeking approximately $47,000 in cryptocurrency allegedly taken from five victims through a technology-support and government-impersonation fraud scheme. The case reflects expanding efforts to recover digital assets after scammers convert victims’ cash through cryptocurrency ATMs.
Key Takeaways
Prosecutors seek 47,461.73111 USDT worth approximately $47,000.Five victims’ payments reached the same cryptocurrency wallet.The filing extends a series of Massachusetts crypto recoveries.A Ware, Massachusetts, resident became a target after her computer stopped responding and displayed a pop-up directing her to call customer support. The person answering claimed her bank account had been compromised and instructed her to transfer the money to the government for safekeeping.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) stated:
“At the direction of the scammers, the victim withdrew funds from their bank account and deposited them into a Bitcoin Depot brand cryptocurrency ATM at a gas station in Ludlow, Mass.”
Money deposited through the Ludlow machine moved to the perpetrators, while investigators later traced part of the proceeds to a cryptocurrency wallet. Authorities seized those funds in March and connected four additional victims of similar schemes to the same wallet address.
Crypto ATM Fraud Draws Congressional AttentionThe U.S. Attorney’s Office added:
“This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.”
Civil forfeiture proceedings allow third parties to assert ownership claims before a court determines whether the assets can be forfeited to the United States. If the government prevails and valid claims are resolved, recovered cryptocurrency may be returned to victims of the alleged fraud.
