The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned that criminals are using couriers to collect money from victims of cryptocurrency investment scams, also known as pig butchering or romance baiting.
Such scams usually start with the fraudsters reaching out to their targets via social media, dating sites, and messaging apps, building trust, and then luring victims into fake investment schemes. However, instead of investing their funds, the scammers will steal the money by moving it into accounts under their control.
The warning came in the form of a public service announcement published on Monday, in which the law enforcement agency said that scammers are pushing targets toward in-person cash pickups (in some cases claiming a victim's account has been "flagged") after legitimate financial institutions block suspicious money transfers.
The dispatched couriers identify themselves using an agreed-upon password or a specific dollar bill serial number. After the pickup, victims see a simulated increase in their virtual wallet balance and attempt to withdraw their winnings, but the scammers restart the cycle and demand even more cash for fraudulent taxes and penalties, again collected through couriers.
