JEFFERSON COUNTY, Texas — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be on alert after receiving two reports of Bitcoin-related scams since July 1.

In one case, a scammer posing as a law enforcement officer told the victim they had missed jury duty and faced arrest. The caller claimed the victim could avoid jail by paying a fine using Bitcoin. The scammer texted the victim a QR code for the transaction along with instructions on which convenience store to visit.

Fearing jail time, the victim withdrew a large sum of cash from the bank and made three separate Bitcoin deposits totaling $30,000 at different locations, as directed by the scammer. After the third transaction, the scammer told the victim to visit the Sheriff’s Office to collect reimbursement for the previous two “failed” payments. It was there the victim realized they had been scammed.

A second reported case involved a pop-up message on a victim’s computer falsely claiming it was infected with malware from McAfee. The scammer convinced the victim to pay $2,000 in Bitcoin to “recover” their compromised information. After the payment was made and no changes occurred on the victim’s computer, the victim recognized the deception.

“These scammers use high-pressure tactics and threats of arrest to manipulate victims into making immediate payments using Bitcoin – a digital currency that is difficult to track or recover,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that law enforcement, courts, government agencies, and utility companies will never demand payments over the phone or request Bitcoin, gift cards, or similar methods.

“Any demand for immediate payment, especially with threats, is a major red flag,” officials said. They advised that residents should hang up and contact the organization directly if they receive such a call.

The Sheriff’s Office also warned that scammers frequently use caller ID spoofing to make the call appear local or even display the number of a local law enforcement agency.

Authorities reminded the public that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed and that legitimate entities will never require payment in Bitcoin.

“Do not feel ashamed if you have been the victim of a Bitcoin scam. Scammers are skilled manipulators and these scams are widespread,” the release stated.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a scam should contact their local law enforcement agency immediately.