06/16/2026

Scammers Use Couriers to Collect Cash in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams

FBI Alert Number I-061526-PSA

The FBI warns the public about scammers instructing victims, usually senior citizens, to participate in cash pickups purportedly to protect funds purchased through the scammer's cryptocurrency investment platforms, which, at this point, continued to deceptively appear legitimate to the victim. The scammers arrange for couriers to meet the victims in person to retrieve cash for fraudulent investments. In-person cash collection via couriers is a method utilized across many scams, including grandparent, law enforcement impersonation, tech support, and other scams. The following is an example of this tradecraft used by scammers in a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme.

How the Scam Works

Step 1: Victims are Encouraged to Invest in Cryptocurrency

Scammers employ a ruse to entice communication with potential victims by posing as persons seeking business or romantic relationships through online social media networking platforms, unsolicited texts, or by creating a public persona of a cryptocurrency investment expert. After establishing a relationship with the victim, the scammer suggests investing in cryptocurrency and instructs the victim to download specific cryptocurrency trading applications and create investment accounts. The victims are encouraged to begin investing by sending wire transfers to various domestic and international bank accounts, which the victim believes are deposit accounts for investment platforms recommended by the scammer. Victims are provided access to websites showing fictitious returns on their investment, which encourages them to invest additional funds in the scheme.¹

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