Lancaster County woman scammed out of more than $11,000

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fraud that cost a woman more than $11,000.

A 68-year-old woman in southeast Lancaster County said she was called by a man claiming to be with the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to Chief Deputy Ben Houchin.

Deputies said the man made her believe she was the main suspect in a cocaine investigation in Texas.

She was told she could serve up to seven years in prison.

But the man told her if she paid a certain amount of money, she would be given a new Social Security number, and the situation would be handled.

The victim withdrew $11,800 from her checking account, deputies said.

She was instructed to deposit the money in a bitcoin ATM, and the man gave her a QR code that would allow him to access the money.

After the victim did this, the man stopped responding.

The man had provided an email address that ended in “dea.gov.gmail.com.” Houchin said government agencies would never use a Gmail account.

Deputies said the scam is still under investigation. But Houchin said once the money is sent, it is very difficult to get it back.