FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On August 14, 2025, an Amarillo resident came to the front lobby of the Amarillo Police Department to report being the victim of an employment scam. The resident had applied for a remote personal assistant job through an online job site.
The scam involved the suspect sending fraudulent checks, instructing the victim to deposit the funds, withdraw them, and then place the money into a Bitcoin ATM, where the funds were transferred to a digital wallet. The fraudulent deposit occurred on August 13, 2025.
Corporal Carroll responded to the report and immediately notified the Financial Crimes Unit (FCU). With the information provided, Officer Coleman was able to begin tracking the cryptocurrency. The funds were traced as they moved from the initial wallet into a crypto exchange. Thanks to quick action, the funds were frozen on August 18, 2025. On August 25, 2025, legal processes were filed, and on September 1, 2025, the APD received notification that the funds had been returned.
The Amarillo Police Department would like to commend Corporal Carroll for his attentiveness in recognizing the scam and notifying the FCU immediately, and Detective Coleman for her diligent work in tracking and recovering the majority of the victim’s funds. Their efforts prevented a significant financial loss and demonstrate the importance of quickly involving the Financial Crimes Unit in these types of cases.
The Amarillo Police Department reminds the public to be cautious of unsolicited job offers, especially those requiring unusual financial transactions such as depositing checks and converting funds to cryptocurrency. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, please contact the Amarillo Police Department immediately.
