OSBI warns public of cryptocurrency scam after suspects reportedly impersonate bank employees

NORMAN, Okla. —

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is warning people about a cryptocurrency scam after the perpetrators reportedly impersonated bank employees.

OSBI officials said a victim told the Norman Police Department that there was a transaction in her bank account related to the purchase of child sexual abuse materials.

The scammers reportedly impersonated bank employees and told the victim she had to send them money via cryptocurrency. If she didn’t send the money, the scammers claimed authorities would be contacted, according to the OSBI.

Norman Police Department detectives traced cryptocurrency transactions and determined the scammers had contacted multiple victims across Oklahoma, surrounding states, and Canada, a news release states.

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Investigators found dozens of victims who had been scammed out of more than $70,000. OSBI special agents obtained a warrant and seized more than $581,000 in cryptocurrency stored in the scammers’ accounts, officials said.

The OSBI and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office are working to return the stolen money to the victims. People who think they fell victim to the cryptocurrency scam are asked to report it to local law enforcement and online here.