Scammers are out in full force this holiday season, as RCPD noted in its activity report Thursday morning.
A Manhattan man is out thousands of dollars in an online scam involving a fake Metallica YouTube channel.
The Riley County Police Department says a report was filed Wednesday afternoon in the 3800 block of Marlatt Ave. for theft by deception. A 51-year-old man reported to police he was scammed by the fake account into transferring approximately $25,500 of Bitcoin to an unknown suspect.
Police also noted a report for theft by deception Wednesday in the 2900 block of Princeton Lane involving a scammer posing as an RCPD employee.
Community First Bank and a 50-year-old woman were listed as victims when she reported being called by an unknown suspect claiming to be a “Captain Kyle poser,” who told her she had a jury duty warrant and needed to pay him $800 in Walmart gift cards to settle the warrant, which she did.
Anyone with information can contact RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.
RCPD reminds that law enforcement agencies will never call anyone asking for money, especially through gift cards, which is a common practice for scammers.
