Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution has recovered $23,000 for an active duty service member who was targeted in a cryptocurrency scam.
The victim, from Osceola County and deployed overseas, received an email from someone pretending to be Microsoft. The message claimed his accounts had been compromised and instructed him to transfer Bitcoin to the scammer as a way to protect his money.
According to Uthmeier, “This recovery should be a warning to criminals: even a China-based scammer wasn’t out of reach for our team. Thanks to the diligent work of the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit and our law enforcement partners, we have recovered the hard-earned money of one of our nation’s heroes.”
After the incident was reported to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit, authorities worked with a U.S. Secret Service analyst and the Attorney General’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit (CFEU) to freeze access to the funds. The CFEU then obtained a court order that allowed them to recover the stolen money.
Officials emphasized that legitimate businesses, financial institutions, or government agencies will not contact individuals by email, text, or social media requesting payment—especially not in cryptocurrency. They also warned against paying anyone who unexpectedly demands payment and highlighted how scammers use urgency and emotional manipulation to pressure victims into quick decisions without proper verification.
Residents are encouraged to verify any communication claiming to be from banks or government entities before sharing personal information. Those who believe they have been targeted by fraud can file complaints at MyFloridaLegal.com or call 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.