Mokena, IL – The Mokena Police Department has issued a warning about a scam involving hackers freezing computers and then convincing victims to deposit money into Bitcoin machines.
This scam begins when the victim’s computer is hacked or infected with a virus, leading to a freeze-up. A notification appears, urging the victim to call a provided phone number. Upon calling, victims are misled into believing that money has been stolen from their bank accounts, and they are instructed to withdraw more money and deposit it into a specified Bitcoin machine.
The Mokena Police Department emphasizes that if individuals encounter a frozen computer, they should try to exit the window through the task manager, restart the computer, or seek professional help instead of following any instructions from a pop-up message.
The department advises against calling the phone numbers displayed on the screen or sending money to anyone over the phone. Scammers often pose as employees of well-known companies to seem credible. The police urge residents to spread the word about this scam to prevent further victims.
