Middletown police are sounding the alarm about a brazen phone scam that hijacks the department’s name and phone number to scare residents into paying fake fines with bitcoin. Scammers are telling people they missed jury duty or have an outstanding warrant, then ordering them to make an immediate payment by buying cryptocurrency at a nearby gas station kiosk. While keeping victims on the line, the callers walk them through every step of the crypto purchase and sometimes even email phony documents to make the whole thing look official. The department is urging anyone who gets a call like this to hang up and verify the story themselves by calling the non-emergency line.
In a Facebook post, the Middletown Division of Police said scammers are spoofing the department’s phone number and directing victims to use a bitcoin kiosk to “pay” supposed fines. The post makes it clear these calls are fraudulent and reminds residents that real law enforcement will not accept cryptocurrency to clear a warrant. Police are asking anyone who is unsure about a call to contact the department directly through official channels instead of following instructions from a stranger on the phone.
How the Scam Works
The basic script is an old one with a crypto-age twist. Imposters claim to be from a court or law enforcement office, say you skipped jury duty, and warn that an arrest is coming if you do not pay up right away. The pressure is intense and deliberate. Targets are pushed to withdraw cash and feed it into a cryptocurrency kiosk, often using a QR code or a slick-looking website that makes the transaction seem official. According to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of Bitcoin ATM scams have surged in recent data, and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has urged banks and kiosk operators to keep a close eye out for suspicious transactions tied to these machines.
Local Cases Show the Risk
Nearby counties are already seeing real losses. A Butler County woman told local TV she was out about $5,000 after a caller claimed she had missed jury duty and then stayed on the phone while she completed a bitcoin purchase at a GetGo gas station kiosk, according to WPXI. Authorities stress that caller ID can be spoofed and that legitimate courts or police departments will not demand cryptocurrency payments over the phone.
How to Protect Yourself
If you get a threatening call demanding money, especially one tied to jury duty or a supposed warrant, hang up and call your local police department from a different phone to confirm whether the claim is real. Do not send money, do not buy cryptocurrency, and do not share verification codes just because someone on the line insists there is no time to think. Report scam attempts to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. If you already moved money, contact your bank immediately and file a report with local police so investigators have a record of what happened.
