The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in El Paso has issued a cautionary alert to residents in the city regarding a deceptive cryptocurrency scam that capitalizes on the fear of identity theft. This illicit scheme involves sending cryptocurrency and other funds under the pretext of assisting individuals who believe they have fallen victim to identity theft.
According to reports in the El Paso Times, this crypto scam employs a letter that masquerades as an official request from the FBI and is being distributed to homes throughout the city. What makes it particularly convincing is its attempt to attribute authenticity by forging the signature of special agent John S. Morales, a genuine FBI officer.
The scam letter goes to great lengths to appear genuine. It includes capitalized phrases like “UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY” and features the address details of a legitimate El Paso FBI branch. These elements are skillfully crafted to deceive the recipient and create an illusion of legitimacy.
The letter opens by assuring the reader that they have successfully safeguarded their Bank of America account, which had allegedly come under suspicion by the US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL. It proceeds to provide a fabricated confirmation number and instructs the recipient to “contact your investigation officer for further assistance.”
The catch is that the provided contact number is fraudulent. When dialed, the scammers on the other end of the line deftly guide the victims into making either a fiat currency or cryptocurrency deposit onto a counterfeit website under their control.
This deceptive scheme came to the attention of authorities after a vigilant El Paso resident reported the letter to the local FBI branch last week. It is vital to emphasize that the FBI never communicates with individuals through written letters or demands for cryptocurrency or fiat currency.
Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident. El Paso has witnessed a surge in various scams impersonating law enforcement agencies, utility companies, and other government entities. Such scams continue to pose a significant threat to unsuspecting residents, making it crucial for individuals to exercise utmost caution and be vigilant against fraudulent schemes.