San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s detectives in California, United States, have recovered nearly $5,000 of the $17,000 stolen in a cryptocurrency scam targeting victims in Los Osos two years ago. On Sept. 12, 2022, the victims informed authorities that they were deceived by a scammer posing as a relative in legal trouble, leading them to deposit approximately $17,000 into cryptocurrency ATMs. The scammer gained access to the funds using the victims’ ATM receipts. Detectives traced the stolen bitcoin to a major cryptocurrency exchange. After a two-year investigation, about $4,700 was returned to the victims with the help of the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. The sheriff’s office is continuing efforts to investigate similar scams and raise public awareness. Officials urge the public to remain cautious, especially when receiving suspicious calls or computer pop-ups demanding money, and to educate others about the dangers of crypto scams in California and across the U.S.