MONTPELIER — The Montpelier Police Department issued a scam alert Tuesday, warning residents about a new email scheme demanding Bitcoin payments to prevent the release of personal information.
According to police, a resident reported receiving an email with a PDF attachment on Monday.
The attachment displayed some personal information about the recipient along with a photo of their street, demanding payment in Bitcoin to prevent further release of data.
Authorities determined the personal information was likely obtained from public records or data breaches.
The street photo was identified as a Google Street View screenshot deliberately chosen to avoid showing the specific residence.
“No legitimate entity will request payment in the form of gift cards, Bitcoin, etc.,” the police department stated in its alert.
Officials advise residents to resist acting immediately on urgent demands and to verify the identity of callers claiming to be known individuals.
They recommend contacting family members directly using trusted phone numbers to confirm any concerning stories.
The police urge anyone who receives suspicious communications to contact the department or discuss with trusted friends or family before taking action.
They specifically warn against wiring money, purchasing gift cards, or sending checks via overnight delivery in response to such schemes.
This incident is part of a recent increase in aggressive scams targeting the community, according to the Montpelier Police Department.
