ROSWELL, Ga. – A Roswell woman was scammed out of more than $100,000 in a cryptocurrency scheme, a case that local police say reflects a disturbing trend across metro Atlanta.
On September 2, the woman encountered a pop-up alert on her computer, urging her to call what appeared to be Microsoft support. That call connected her to someone posing as a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agent, who falsely claimed she was under investigation for multiple felonies.
The scammer manipulated the woman into believing her money was at risk and needed to be “secured” by depositing it into bitcoin kiosks at gas stations.
“It’s sickening. They’re smarter than anybody—especially with AI now, they can impersonate and do everything,” said Penny McNerney, the victim’s relative.
McNerney explained that the woman, although knowing she had done nothing wrong, was manipulated through fear and intimidation. The caller even threatened her with arrest if she told anyone about the call.
Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo emphasized how scammers are now leveraging cryptocurrency to avoid detection and make funds unrecoverable.
“Other financial institutions offer fraud protections and ways to reverse transactions. Cryptocurrency doesn’t offer that same level of protection,” Lupo said.
Although police were able to recover about $15,000, most of the funds remain lost. Lupo warned that scammers create false urgency and isolate victims, particularly targeting older adults unfamiliar with digital currencies.
“The urgency is fake. Hang up and speak with someone you trust—your family, your banker—and verify the situation,” he advised.
McNerney hopes the story will serve as a warning.
“Unless you’re in that mindset, you can’t say ‘Oh, I’d never fall for that,’” she said.
Authorities say many scammers operate from out of state or overseas, making recovery and prosecution difficult. Roswell police urge the public to stay vigilant and verify any suspicious calls before acting.
