WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is investigating a cryptocurrency investment scam that reportedly cost a local resident hundreds of thousands of dollars after an online encounter turned costly.
According to the WCSO, the victim met an individual online who persuaded him to invest in a cryptocurrency app called Lace. The person, who posed as a woman, reportedly convinced the victim to send approximately $400,000.
The sheriff’s office said the victim believed his investment was growing quickly, showing what appeared to be several hundred thousand dollars in profit. However, when he attempted to withdraw the money, he was told he needed to send additional funds to “unlock” his account.
That was when the victim realized he had been scammed, the WCSO said. Investigators later determined that the identification provided by the scammer was fake.
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The Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau is continuing to investigate the case.
The WCSO urged residents to be cautious of anyone online promising fast profits or guaranteed cryptocurrency returns, warning that such claims are “100 percent a scam.”
“If you think you’re being scammed, contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office immediately,” the agency said.
“We’ll give you the tea and tell you to throw that catfish back in their cryptopond.”
