FBI Operation Level Up is Saving Missouri Residents from a Scam

When I was a kid, the scams you'd hear about were either by mail or telephone. Now, in our modern era, the FBI is saving Missouri residents from a brand new high-tech scam that has robbed thousands already.

The FBI calls this Operation Level Up. It was launched in January of last year with the intention of alerting those in Missouri who either have been or could be victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud. The results in just over a year have been stunning. Here are numbers shared by the FBI:

• The FBI has notified 5,831 victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud
• 77% of those victims were unaware they were being scammed
• The estimated savings to victims is $359,243,303.1
• 59 victims have been referred to an FBI victim specialist for suicide intervention

What are the tell-tale signs that a cryptocurrency investment scheme is a fraud?

The FBI says that any unsolicited texts you've received are almost always fraudulent. A reputable business will not contact you that way. They also say that if there is a high-pressure to invest quickly with the promise of a quick return, that's likely not going to end well for you. It's the modern version of the old get rich quick scheme now in a digital world.

The FBI needs your help if you've been contacted or the victim of one of these schemes. You can submit a report online through their St. Louis office which may enable them to help you and protect others in the future from becoming a victim.