Since Feb. 29, four cases have been reported, double the usual monthly average. Victims, ranging from 45 to 83 years old, fell prey to various tactics including romance, hacker impersonation, false arrest claims, and sextortion.Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres emphasized the importance of skepticism toward online contacts, advising against sending money to strangers.
"Unfortunately, when money is converted to cryptocurrency and transferred to a scammer, it’s very difficult to track that money and the odds of getting it back are very small," said Arres. "We want people to remember that if someone you haven’t met is asking or demanding that you immediately pay them with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer or a gift card, don’t do it."The Federal Trade Commission provided the following tips to avoid scams.