New Lenox Ross Employee Targeted In Bitcoin Scam, Feared For Others' Jobs: New Lenox PD

NEW LENOX, IL — An employee at a New Lenox retail store was targeted in a Bitcoin scam last week, according to police reports.

Police were called Friday to Ross Dress for Less, 475 E. Lincoln Highway, for a deceptive practice complaint. Police learned that someone claiming to be from the business' corporate organization had called the store, demanding payment for a package.

They advised the New Lenox employee that a check for a package had not gone through, and they needed to send cash from the store to make payment, according to police reports.

The caller then told the employee that several employees' jobs were in jeopardy due to the issue, and that it needed to be corrected immediately.

The employee was instructed to bring the cash to a Bitcoin machine at the Circle K gas station in New Lenox. The caller also told the employee not to obtain a receipt, so the transaction could not be tracked.

The employee deposited a total of approximately $3,500. The caller then requested an additional $3,000. The employee then obtained $2,000 of their own personal money, and was instructed to deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM at 15930 W. 159th Street, in Homer Glen.

The employee later learned the whole thing was a scam after a manager discovered the missing funds.

The incident is under review by investigations for assignment or closure.