GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — Michigan State Police in Traverse City are taking their scam prevention efforts directly to the source, visiting bitcoin machines in the area to post warning flyers and help protect residents from fraud.
“Once you put money in, you’re not getting it back,” said MSP Lt. Ashley Miller said. “There are scams daily, whether it’s text message, telephone or via email, people are getting scammed out of thousands of dollars.”
If you take a look at a map, the majority of bitcoin machines in northern Michigan can be found in the Traverse City area:
Many of the fraudulent transactions are taking place at a bitcoin machine, where some are depositing up to six figures in cash to transfer to the scammer’s crypto wallet.
That bothered state police in Traverse City.
“They investigated a large case involving fraud and it was around $400,000. And so, this is something that is detrimental to anyone. That loss is very significant. So, I think that case really was a turning point to say, ‘hey, we need to do something for our community,’” Lt. Miller said.
So, troopers created a simple but hopefully effective solution, designing flyers to tape next to the bitcoin machines.
This is the poster state police are posting on bitcoin machines across the Traverse City area. (MSP)
According to Federal Trade Commission data, in 2020 Michiganders lost $60 million to scams.
In 2024 the total was $204 million, a 240% increase.
“Hopefully when someone goes to put in the money they’ll read that sign and say, ‘you know, I should stop and call the state police before I put my money in that machine,’” said Lt. Miller.
The poster lists common scams such as a stranger saying a loved one is in financial trouble and asking if you’re being told to lie about a withdrawal.
“Even if it’s one person, it’s one less person that’s becoming a victim and not losing their money to cryptocurrency. So even if we save one person, that’s a win for us,” said Lt. Miller.
Lt. Miller says the hope is to do this across all of northern Michigan.
She says it’s important to be proactive as a law enforcement agency, but she also wants to remind you to talk to your elderly family members about scams and not click on random links or respond to strangers.