ZANESVILLE, Ohio — A Zanesville woman has recovered more than $7,300 after falling victim to an online scam, thanks to an investigation by the Zanesville Police Department.
According to police, the woman reported the scam on Jan. 15 after receiving an email claiming her computer’s antivirus protection had expired. After calling the phone number listed in the message, she was instructed by the scammer to purchase $7,000 in gift cards to remove alleged malicious files from her computer.
The following day, the scammer persuaded the victim to deposit an additional $12,000 into a Bitcoin account, falsely claiming the transaction would prevent unauthorized withdrawals from her bank account.
Detectives Bryan Ruff and Phil Michel launched an investigation that traced the cryptocurrency to a suspect believed to be in Pakistan. Working with a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange and using a court-authorized seizure warrant, investigators were able to recover digital assets valued at $7,392.92, which have since been returned to the victim.
Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch commended the detectives for their work, noting that financial crimes involving cryptocurrency require law enforcement to stay current with evolving technology.
Police also reminded residents to be cautious of unsolicited emails, phone calls or messages that create a sense of urgency or request payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency, as these are common tactics used by scammers.
