Sheriff’s Office Returns Cryptocurrency to Scam Victim
June 12, 2025
Elise Schaffer, PIO, (608) 284-6142
Sheriff's Office
Dane County Sheriff’s Office Detectives specializing in financial crimes have been working hard to combat and investigate the seemingly never-ending number of scams and fraud cases victimizing our citizens. On Monday, June 9th, a detective, in partnership with the Wisconsin DOJ, Division of Criminal Investigations, recovered and returned a portion of the cryptocurrency used in the transaction, valued over $4,000.
In February of this year, the victim utilized a sponsored, third-party link on a search engine in what they believed to be a legitimate website for payment of a streaming service. In reality, this was link was a scam. The transaction compromised his bank account, and the scammer from overseas ultimately gained access to his cell phone and personal information. The scammer was to compromise the victims account and fraudulently transfer funds using cryptocurrency, resulting in a loss of thousands.
“We understand how devastating these scams can be—not just financially, but emotionally,” said Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. “This case shows that even in the evolving world of cybercrime, we are adapting and working hard to recover what’s been lost and hold scammers accountable.”
This is an exceedingly rare feat due to cryptocurrency's anonymity and complexity. It is a first for the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and one of only 10 instances in the entire state. In this specific instance, detectives were able to return some of the financial loss. In most cases however, once funds are sent using a cryptocurrency exchange, they are not recoverable.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls or emails demanding money, especially involving cryptocurrency or gift cards. In addition, “sponsored” links after using a search engine can sometimes be a front for illegitimate sites, such as this case. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts and contact local law enforcement.