16-02-2025
Colleyville police return over $2,000 to victim in Bitcoin arrest-warrant scam
Colleyville police returned money to the victim of Bitcoin scammers impersonating a police department, according to a post on the department's Facebook.
The victim was contacted Sep. 9 by someone claiming to be an officer with the Northlake Police Department, officials said.
The scammer told the victim that she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest that needed to be paid or she would be arrested, according to the post.
The victim was told to go to her bank and withdraw $2,500 from her account to pay for the warrant, then to go to a Kroger in Hurst to transfer money to the department via a Bitcoin ATM inside the store.
The victim placed $2,500 into a Bitcoin account and the scammers withdrew $900 before police froze the remainder of the funds, Colleyville police chief Micheal Miller said.
Police then seized the remaining $1,600, which was returned to the victim after a property hearing Feb. 13.
Due to an increase in the value of Bitcoin, the victim was ultimately able to recover $2,250 of the original $2,500 stolen, Miller said.
'We are seeing these scams on a regular basis and the scammers are really good,' Miller said. 'However, it's a great day when we are able to return funds to a victim.'
If you are contacted by someone who claims you have an outstanding warrant that must be paid via Bitcoin or gift cards, hang up and call the police department directly, Colleyville police officials said.
