Bitcoin <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/crypto/new-malware-that-steals-cryptocurrencies-spreads-across-latin-america/">scammers</a> in Singapore have found a new way to cheat people and avoid Police cases at the same time. As per the latest information from a local <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/scammers-turning-to-bitcoin-machines-to-avoid-police-detection">daily</a>, these scammers are targetting people and asking them to buy Bitcoin from Bitcoin Machines on their behalf. Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) reported two such cases which involved a Bitcoin machine and two victims with a similar back story behind purchasing Bitcoin.

One of the two victims who identified himself as Mr J was approached by police when he was about to buy Bitcoin on instructions of a lady whom he met on a dating website. Mr J explained that after talking for a couple of weeks over the phone and via text messages they became close, and that is when the scammer started asking for financial support citing critical issues in her life. He also revealed that the lady always asked to send the money to different bank accounts every time.

Mr J said that on the last occasion she demanded the money in Bitcoin and asked him to buy it from a Bitcoin machine. Fortunately for Mr J, two policemen were present in the vicinity when he was about to purchase Bitcoin on December 30, and they intervened just in time. After looking at Mr J's chat and the continuous demand for money from the scammer, Police informed him that he was a victim of a "Love Scam."

This was the second victim of the alleged Love Scam; Police also stopped another victim from buying from the same machine a month back in November. The police agency has claimed that such kind of love scams which involve the use of Bitcoin machines instead of direct transfers have seen a notable rise in recent times. The use of bitcoin machines has increased since it does not reveal the identity of the scammer that easily as would have been the case with a wallet-to-wallet transfer.

The police agency has appealed to the civilians to avoid sharing sensitive personal details like their passport number, bank account number, credit card details or One-time passwords (OTP). Inspector Ho Cher Hin, from the NCP, said,
<blockquote>"To prevent others from losing their money to these scams, officers from Bukit Merah East NPC have been engaging users of the bitcoin machine to prevent such transactions. "</blockquote>
He advised further,
<blockquote>"No government agency or official will request for personal details or transfer of money over the phone or through automated voice machines. Call a trusted friend or talk to a relative before you act as you may be overwhelmed by emotion and err in your judgment."</blockquote>
Mr J who was the victim in the Love Scam did not reveal any details on how much money he lost, or what is his profession but hoped telling his story would help others from falling prey to such scams.

Bitcoin Scammers Using "Love Scam" To Cheat People

Bitcoin scammers have found a new way of targetting people and asking them to buy Bitcoin from Machines on their behalf to avoid police detection

An engineering graduate, Prashant focuses on UK and Indian markets. As a crypto-journalist, his interests lie in blockchain technology adoption across emerging economies.

Bitcoin Scammers Using "Love Scam" To Cheat People

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