Amarillo Police Recover Employment Scam Funds via Cryptocurrency Tracking

Amarillo police successfully recovered funds stolen from a victim of an employment scam involving a remote personal assistant job. The scammer sent fraudulent checks to the victim, instructing them to deposit the funds, withdraw the money, and transfer it into a Bitcoin ATM linked to a digital wallet. Upon receiving the report on August 14, officers quickly involved the Financial Crimes Unit, which tracked the cryptocurrency as it moved through wallets and exchanges, leading to the freezing of the funds by August 18. Legal processes were initiated on August 25, and the recovered money was returned to the victim by September 1. The Amarillo Police Department commended Corporal Ed Carroll and Detective Janae Coleman for their prompt and diligent work in preventing significant financial loss. Authorities urged the public to be cautious of unsolicited job offers, especially those requiring unusual financial transactions, and encouraged anyone suspecting a scam to contact the police immediately.