06/08/2026
The Decherd Police Department would like to make the public aware of two complex scams that recently occurred in our area.
An employee of a local business was contacted by an individual who claimed to be the business owner. The suspect appeared to have knowledge of the business and convinced the employee to remove cash from the business and send money through Bitcoin transactions. The employee believed they were acting under legitimate instructions and remained on the phone with the suspect throughout the incident.
Unfortunately, these types of scams are becoming increasingly common. Criminals often impersonate business owners, managers, government agencies, law enforcement, or financial institutions to gain trust and pressure victims into sending money through cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or other methods that are difficult to recover.
Please remember:
• Legitimate business owners will not ask employees to send company funds through Bitcoin or cryptocurrency ATMs.
• Be suspicious of anyone who instructs you to stay on the phone and not speak with others.
• Never send money, purchase gift cards, or deposit cryptocurrency based solely on instructions received by phone, text message, or email.
• If you receive an unusual request involving money, independently verify it by contacting the person or business through a known phone number.
• If something feels wrong, stop and contact law enforcement before sending any money.
We encourage everyone to share this information with family members, friends, and coworkers to help prevent others from becoming victims.
If you believe you have been targeted by a scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency immediately.
