The Plymouth Police Department has raised the alarm on the uptick in cryptocurrency scams this holiday season, urging the community to exercise caution with their digital wallets. With the festive season in full swing, scammers are capitalizing on the generosity and sometimes the naivety of the public with fraudulent schemes. The department cautioned against several deceptive tactics in a recent social media post, highlighting the warning signs of such scams.
Per the department's advisory, one of the most telling signs of a scam is receiving unsolicited offers, particularly from strangers or unexpected contacts. Another red flag is the promise of guaranteed returns, which are inherently suspicious as all legitimate investments carry risk. Scammers also have been known to ask for upfront payments, claiming these fees are necessary to unlock greater funds or returns, another deceptive strategy to look out for. And in more insidious cases, scammers might impersonate trusted sources like government agencies or tech support in attempts, to swindle unsuspecting individuals out of their cryptocurrencies.
"Be cautious if someone contacts you about investing in cryptocurrency, especially if it’s from a stranger or unexpected source," the Plymouth Police Department post read. They further warned, "Never send cryptocurrency or money as a “fee” to unlock more funds or returns." These scams are particularly dangerous given the nature of cryptocurrency; once sent, it is nearly impossible to recover the funds.
The police remind the public to stay vigilant and to verify any dubious offers with people they trust or to contact law enforcement directly for assistance. In the spirit of keeping Plymouth safe and scam-free, the department encourages anyone who's unsure about a crypto offer or who suspects fraudulent activity to reach out to them. For additional information or to report suspicious activity, the department has requested the public to contact them via the details provided on the official Plymouth Police Department Facebook page.
