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Scam Alerts

Emergency Scam Alert: Police Stop 80-Year-Old Veteran From Losing $58,000 in Bitcoin ATM Scam

Before you do ANYTHING, call your bank

,   and  Gary P Guthrie
3 min read

A South Florida police officer is being credited with saving an 80-year-old Vietnam veteran from losing his life savings — and the entire incident was captured on video.

The clip, first reported by NBC 6 Miami, shows how fast and convincingly scammers can take control of a senior’s finances.

SSD strongly recommends sharing this alert with parents, neighbors, church friends, and anyone who may be vulnerable. These scams are exploding.

▶️ Watch the Video (NBC6 / via YouTube)

“Stop putting money in!” — The Moment Police Intervened

In the video, officers arrive at a convenience store to find an elderly man — identified only as Ted, an 80-year-old Vietnam veteran — feeding cash into a Bitcoin ATM while speaking to someone on the phone.

That “someone” wasn’t his bank.

It was a scammer impersonating Chase Bank, giving Ted step-by-step instructions to empty his account and deposit money into the Bitcoin machine.

When officers told him to stop, Ted was so convinced the scammer was real that he thought the police might be impostors.

“Who am I speaking with?” the officer asks the scammer.
The scammer responds: “If you’re police, I am Donald Trump.”

Police shut the transaction down — but not before Ted had already deposited almost $58,000.

His son, who noticed the sudden withdrawals, called police just in time.

How the Scam Started

According to reporting from NBC 6 Miami, it began like so many modern scams do:

  1. A pop-up suddenly appeared on Ted’s computer.
  2. It warned that his bank account was being “stolen.”
  3. The pop-up urged him to call a number immediately.
  4. The number connected him directly to the scammers.
  5. They pretended to be from Chase Bank.
  6. They told him the “only way” to protect his money was to
    withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM.

Ted later said:

“It looked so real on the screen.”

⚠️ WARNING SIGNS OF A BITCOIN ATM SCAM

🚫 1. A pop-up claims your money is being stolen
Legitimate banks NEVER send alerts through pop-ups or flashing browser windows.
🚫 2. You’re told to call a “bank number” on your screen
Pop-up phone numbers always go to scammers — not your bank.
🚫 3. The caller demands secrecy or “urgent action”
This is a psychological trick to keep you from checking with family or your bank.
🚫 4. They tell you to withdraw cash fast
Banks NEVER ask customers to remove cash for “security purposes.”
🚫 5. You’re told to use a Bitcoin ATM
No government agency, bank, police department, or utility company accepts Bitcoin. If someone directs you to a Bitcoin ATM → **it is a scam. Every time.**
🚫 6. They stay on the phone while you deposit money
Scammers do this to prevent you from thinking clearly or talking to someone who might stop you.

Why This Scam Is Exploding

The FTC says Bitcoin ATM fraud losses have now topped $100 million a year — one of the fastest-growing scam categories.

Seniors are the prime targets because:

  • Scammers know many trust phone calls over apps
  • Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed
  • Victims feel embarrassed and don’t report the loss

Banks, including Chase, emphasize they will never:

  • Ask you to move money “for security,”
  • Ask you to withdraw cash,
  • Ask you to use a Bitcoin or gift-card kiosk.

If You Ever See a Pop-Up Like This

  1. Do not call any number on the screen.
  2. Shut down your computer immediately.
  3. Call your bank using the number on your card.
  4. Tell a family member.
  5. Report the pop-up to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A Final Thought

Ted asked NBC 6 Miami:

“How did this happen with me? What was I thinking?”

The truth?

This scam is designed to overwhelm, confuse, and isolate people — fast.
Anyone, at any age, can fall for it in the moment.

Please click on one of the sharing buttons at the top and share this alert with loved ones. It could save someone thousands of dollars.

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