FBI Warns Scammers Are Using Couriers to Collect Cash in Crypto Scams
Summary
The FBI warns that fraudsters use couriers to collect cash from victims of cryptocurrency investment scams, authenticating pickups with passwords or dollar-bill serial numbers. It urges victims to report scams and avoid handing cash to strangers.
Key points
- Scammers build trust through social media, dating sites, and messaging apps before steering victims into fake cryptocurrency investments.
- After financial institutions block suspicious transfers, fraudsters may claim an account is flagged and arrange an in-person cash pickup.
- Couriers may use an agreed password or a specific dollar-bill serial number to appear affiliated with the scammer.
- Victims may be shown a simulated increase in their virtual wallet balance, then pressured to pay more for fraudulent taxes or penalties.
- The FBI advises against sharing home addresses or giving cash to unknown people, and urges victims to report scams with available details.
Article Details
- Event Type
- FBI public warning about cryptocurrency investment scammers using couriers to collect cash from victims.
- Impact
- Victims may lose cash through in-person pickups and be pressured for repeated payments. Separately, the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report said U.S. victims lost nearly $21 billion to cyber-enabled crimes, with investment scams accounting for 49% of scam-related incidents and $8.6 billion in losses.