Law enforcement officials in Georgia are urging residents to be vigilant after an elderly woman was defrauded of over $47,000 in a sophisticated scam originating from a seemingly harmless online crossword puzzle. According to the Johns Creek Police Department, the victim was completing a crossword puzzle online when a pop-up message directed her to call a specific phone number.

Upon calling, she was informed by the person on the other end that her Bank of America account had been compromised. The scammers then employed a technique known as “spoofing” to make their phone number appear as if it were from Bank of America. This allowed them to impersonate bank employees and convince the woman to withdraw funds and deposit them into a Bitcoin ATM, supposedly for protection. After the initial transfer, the woman grew suspicious and threatened to contact the police. The scammers, incredibly, then spoofed the police department’s number and posed as law enforcement officers, requesting she withdraw an additional $10,000. When no one arrived to collect the second withdrawal, the woman finally realized she had been scammed and reported the incident to the police.

“These types of criminals thrive on fear and urgency,” investigators stated. “It’s crucial to take a moment to stop, think, and verify information before acting.” Authorities are urging residents to speak with their elderly relatives and neighbors about these types of scams to prevent future victimization. “Let’s try to stop this disgusting scam from happening,” the police department wrote in a Facebook post.

Anyone who suspects they are being targeted by scammers should **NEVER SEND MONEY**. Instead, immediately contact 911 to report the incident.