$35K in Bitcoin Stolen by Scam—Then Tracked and Returned in Wild Cyber Chase Across Ohio

In August 2024, a 73-year-old woman from Delhi Township saw a pop-up alert on her laptop. It warned that her device had been hacked—nothing unusual in today’s digital world. But what followed was the kind of elaborate scam that’s becoming all too common. Believing the message was from Microsoft, the woman called the number provided and fell right into a cyber trap.

What the scammer did next was textbook manipulation.

From Pop-Up to Panic: How the Scam Unfolded

The scammer, posing as a “tech support” agent, convinced the woman her personal information was compromised. The fix? Convert her life savings into Bitcoin—fast.

Over the course of multiple transactions, she sent $41,750 through a Bitcoin ATM, unknowingly transferring her money to a scammer’s wallet. By the time she realized what had happened, it seemed like it was too late.

But that’s where this story takes a turn.

Cyber Sleuths Step In—and Strike Back

The victim reported the incident to the Delhi Township Police Department, who escalated the case to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). That’s when the Electronic Financial Investigations Unit sprang into action.

Within days, the team was mapping out the flow of funds, tracing blockchain transactions, and coordinating with legal authorities to freeze the remaining assets. It was a race against time—Bitcoin is notoriously difficult to track once moved. But the BCI was faster.

Through search warrants and court orders, BCI recovered $35,600 of the stolen funds and returned them to the victim this week.

Authorities React: “Crypto Scams Are Getting Smarter”

“This case illustrates the elaborate traps that crypto criminals use to scam their victims,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “Thankfully, because the victim notified authorities quickly, BCI was able to recover most of the stolen money.”

Quick action was key. Had the woman waited even a few days longer, the outcome could have been very different.

Delhi Township Police Chief Jeff Braun also praised the collaboration:

“I greatly appreciate BCI’s swift and effective assistance in this case. Their expertise in investigating electronic fraud and recovering stolen funds was invaluable. This kind of partnership strengthens our ability to protect and support our community.”

Crypto Scams Aren’t Slowing Down

This case ends on a high note—but not all do. The incident is a stark reminder of how sophisticated crypto scams have become. Pop-ups, fake support numbers, and social engineering are just the beginning. And elderly citizens, often less tech-savvy, are frequent targets.

While the woman was lucky to recover most of her money, she still lost over $6,000—a painful reminder of how much is at stake.

What This Means for You

The takeaway? Always question pop-ups. Never trust unknown numbers. And report fast.

Thanks to cutting-edge tech, legal cooperation, and a determined team, justice was served—but only just in time. The line between loss and recovery in the crypto world is razor-thin. And sometimes, all it takes to cross it… is a single phone call.

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