Month: April 2021

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: Building a digital defense against cryptocurrency investment scams.

Cryptocurrency itself is perfectly legal to buy and use in the U.S. In fact, many mainstream companies are now accepting cryptocurrency for goods and services. What we are seeing, though, is an increase in bad actors who are using old style scams to steal this new-style virtual asset.

In recent months, we’ve had more people report to us that they are losing anywhere from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment scams. Here are some scenarios:

You see the value of cryptocurrencies going up and decide you want to invest, but don’t know how. You find a “trader” online who offers to exchange your cash for whatever brand of crypto you want to buy. He says you just need to pay a commission. When you see the value go up, you try to withdraw the funds… but your “trader” demands a new out-of-pocket commission or just quits responding to you all together.

In another scenario, someone approaches you posing as a currency investor. He says he will help you get started—but instead of transferring your initial investment into a legitimate trading account, he sends you the link to his own digital wallet. You basically just transferred your money into his personal account. He demands an even bigger payment if you want to ever see your initial “investment” back.

In a third scenario, the investor is running a Ponzi scheme. You get regular reports of incredibly high returns and increasing wealth. You might even get a partial payout occasionally, but there are always more requests for additional loans or investments. There are often promises of payments in a few weeks or months, but in the end, you end up losing almost everything.

How to protect yourself:

• Do your research. Look for reputable sources to explain what cryptocurrency is, how to buy it, how to trade it, and how to use it.
• Don’t respond to unsolicited offers or click on links you may receive through email, texts, or social media.
• Never share your private wallet key with anyone. This key is all that is standing between you and someone trying to take your money.

Of importance, you need to understand that if you lose funds through a cryptocurrency investment scam, it will be difficult—if not impossible—to recover your funds.

If you believe you are a victim of an online scam, you should report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: building a digital defense against a new, scarier version of the grandparent scam.

Here’s how it works: grandparents receive a call from one of their “grandchildren.”  The grandchild’s voice may not sound right, but the grandchild explains this is due to COVID-19 or some other illness such as strep throat.

The grandchild explains he or she is in legal trouble and needs some money to get bailed out of jail. When the grandparent agrees to provide funds, the grandchild also mentions there is a “gag order” in this case, and the grandparent shouldn’t discuss this with anyone. So far—this is a typical kind of elder fraud case that we’ve seen before.

In the past, there was a heavy emphasis on payment by pre-paid gift cards or wire transfers. But, here’s the new twist: the fraudsters are demanding cash, which they want picked up in person. A supposed “bail bondsman” shows up at the victim’s home, increasing the potential physical risk to the victim. He reminds the grandparents of the gag order and to not talk about the case.

After the initial payment, the grandparents will receive calls for additional money to be sent via U.S. Mail, FedEx, UPS, or other such service.

Here’s how to protect yourself & your family:

• Don’t respond to demands for immediate action. The scammers will use fear to manipulate you, trying to get you to act without thinking.
• If you receive an unexpected call such as this, check first with your family members to see if the story is true.
• Don’t open the door for strangers, and don’t believe someone who tells you can’t report something to law enforcement.

If you or a family member has been contacted by one of these grandparent scammers, make sure to report it to your local FBI office. If you live in Oregon, the number is (503) 224-4181. You can also report such scams at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

SAVANNAH, GA—The FBI, in coordination with the United States Air Force, is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for a laser strike on an aircraft approaching the Savannah Air National Guard Base on March 9, 2021.

On that date at approximately 9:50 p.m., a United States Air Force aircraft was deliberately struck by a high-powered laser for about one minute. The laser caused temporary eye damage to a member of the flight crew and put the entire crew at risk.

Investigators believe the laser strike originated from an area northeast of Vidalia, Georgia (see maps).

When aimed at an aircraft, a beam of light from a laser can travel more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding pilots. Its is a serious matter and a federal felony to knowingly point the beam of a laser at an aircraft. More information about laser strikes can be found here:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/protecting-aircraft-from-lasers-trial-program-expanded

https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/lasers/

Anyone with information about the laser strike on March 9, 2021, is asked to contact FBI Atlanta at 770-216-3000 or go to tips.fbi.gov.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

LOS ANGELES—A man suspected of murdering a victim outside a fast-food restaurant in Northridge in 2017 was returned to Los Angeles by members of the FBI’s Los Angeles Fugitive Task Force to face prosecution announced Kristi K. Johnson, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Derek Bryan Dominguez, a convicted felon, was wanted for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of a man in California on the evening of December 31, 2017.

According to detectives and a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court in the Central District of California, Dominguez was inside a fast food restaurant in Los Angeles, California, with his girlfriend and two sons when he made eye contact through the restaurant window with another male. The male was outside of the restaurant with the victim and another man.

Dominguez allegedly exited the restaurant and, after a brief verbal altercation involving the man with whom he made eye contact, punched the victim in the face. The victim attempted to defend himself, according to investigators, and punched back before Dominguez allegedly produced a handgun and fired multiple rounds, ultimately killing the victim.

Dominguez fled the scene. Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department believed he fled to Mexico at the time.

Dominguez was charged with murder by the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, and a state warrant was issued for his arrest on January 26, 2018.

A federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California on February 2, 2020, after Dominguez was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. A wanted poster of Dominguez was posted on the FBI’s website at: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/murders/derek-bryandominguez

Following the arrest, Dominguez was booked into a Los Angeles jail and was expected to have an appearance in state court on the murder charge. The Los Angeles County District Attorney is expected to pursue the homicide prosecution. The United States government is expected to dismiss the federal warrant charging Dominguez.

The fugitive investigation concerning Dominquez was conducted by detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles. The Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles is comprised of FBI Agents and Task Force Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; and Los Angeles County Probation.

The FBI continues to work with local law enforcement as well as counterparts in other countries to apprehend violent criminals charged with state crimes who then flee the jurisdiction interstate or internationally. Photos and descriptions of many fugitives wanted by the FBI can be found at www.fbi.gov.