Apopka Police warn of rising cryptocurrency scams

The Apopka Police Department (APD) has issued a warning regarding a rise in cryptocurrency scams affecting residents of all ages. During the first 26 days of August, the department received five reports involving Bitcoin or other digital currencies, a higher frequency than typically observed.

Reported losses have varied significantly, ranging from $35 to over $50,000. Sergeant Jennifer Rudich, APD’s Public Information Officer, noted that scammers often impersonate trusted entities such as banks, businesses, or government agencies to manipulate victims.

Two specific high-value cases were highlighted this month, where individual victims each lost more than $50,000. One incident involved a fraudulent ‘Microsoft support’ pop-up that led to unauthorized access to financial accounts. Another involved a fake work-from-home opportunity where victims were pressured to send cryptocurrency to ‘verify’ information or unlock earnings.

The APD emphasized that the department will never demand payment in Bitcoin or cryptocurrency and urged residents to terminate any such requests and contact local authorities immediately.