In a daring move, a Texas police officer thwarted a Bitcoin ATM scam, rescuing an elderly woman from a $40,000 heist orchestrated by a Chase Bank impersonator. The scammer, posing as a representative from Chase Bank, convinced the victim to deposit $40,000 into a Bitcoin ATM, but the officer's quick intervention foiled the plan.

The scam began when the victim received a call from a number displaying "Chase Bank" and was instructed to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM. The scammer arranged for a ride service to pick up the woman and led her to a local Chase Bank to withdraw the money. After that, the suspect directed her to a convenience store with a Bitcoin ATM machine to deposit the funds.

However, a concerned citizen alerted the police, and an officer arrived on the scene just in time to intercept the scam. Despite the scammer's attempts to continue the transaction, the officer intervened, saving the victim from further losses.

Although the scam was foiled, the victim had already deposited $23,900 into the ATM. Authorities are working to recover and return the funds to the victim.

The incident highlights the growing threat of Bitcoin ATM scams, which have become increasingly common in recent years. The global number of Bitcoin ATMs has rebounded after a decline in May, with an additional 93 ATMs installed across the US as of June 20th. Law enforcement agencies are actively targeting ATMs used for illegal activities like extortion and scams.

The incident serves as a reminder for individuals to be cautious when using Bitcoin ATMs and to be aware of potential scams.