HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Local officials are warning about a surge in bitcoin scams, saying western Mass. residents have been defrauded of more than $2 million dollars in the last 2 to 3 years.

One of the most common schemes — victims get fake calls, saying they owe money needed to be repaid immediately, through cryptocurrency or bitcoin kiosks.

In one recent case, a caller told a Holyoke resident they had an arrest warrant for missing jury duty and had to pay $6,000 dollars or be arrested.

The victim withdrew money, and started depositing it into a bitcoin kiosk, before realizing something was wrong. After calling police, a detective acted quickly and was able to cancel the transaction before it went through.

Police say in most bitcoin scams, the money is gone within minutes and impossible to recover.

If you get a call demanding payment by bitcoin or crypto, just hang up.