Buckeye Reporter

A special unit within the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has recently recovered more than $35,000 in stolen funds for a woman from the Cincinnati area. The victim fell prey to a cryptocurrency scam, as announced by Attorney General Dave Yost and Delhi Township Police Chief Jeff Braun.

"This case illustrates the elaborate traps that crypto criminals use to scam their victims," Yost stated. He emphasized the importance of prompt reporting in such cases, saying, "Thankfully, because the victim notified authorities quickly, BCI was able to recover most of the stolen money."

The incident occurred in August 2024 when a 73-year-old woman from Delhi Township received a message on her laptop claiming it had been hacked. Misled by what she thought was a trusted source, she called a phone number posing as a Microsoft hotline. The scammer convinced her to withdraw and convert $41,750 into Bitcoin to supposedly fix her computer. She completed the transactions using a Bitcoin ATM.

Upon realizing she was scammed, the victim informed the Delhi Township Police Department, which sought help from BCI’s Electronic Financial Investigations unit. The unit managed to trace the transactions and freeze further transfers to the scammer. Through their efforts, BCI recovered $35,600 and returned it to the victim.

"I greatly appreciate BCI’s swift and effective assistance in this case," Braun expressed. He acknowledged the critical role played by BCI’s investigations in recovering the stolen assets, saying, "Their expertise and collaborative approach in investigating electronic fraud and recovering stolen funds were invaluable to our department."

The Electronic Financial Investigations unit investigates intricate electronic fraud cases with a focus on cryptocurrency and racketeering crimes. They work with local and federal law enforcement to prosecute offenders and recover stolen funds when possible.

The unit, comprising experts from various BCI departments such as Forensic Accounting and Cyber Crime, emphasizes consumer education to prevent similar scams. Targets of these scams are often older individuals, directed to withdraw cash and convert it into Bitcoin under false pretenses. They may be misled into thinking they are protecting themselves or someone close to them.

The public is advised to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement promptly. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation can be reached at 855-BCI-OHIO or through email at Intel@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.