LAKEVILLE — A quick response from Lakeville and Raynham police officers prevented a 73-year-old woman from losing $20,000 to a scammer last Thursday, officials said.

The woman, who had withdrawn the cash from her bank, was moments away from depositing it into a Bitcoin ATM at Coletti’s Market in Raynham when officers intervened. She was still on the phone with the scammer, who was providing step-by-step instructions, police said.

Lakeville Police were alerted shortly before 2 p.m. on May 29 when the woman’s family came to the station, concerned she was being scammed and not answering calls. An investigation quickly determined the woman had been convinced her computer was infected with a virus and that the only way to protect her money was to move it into a Bitcoin account. The scammer had also instructed her to ignore phone calls from family.

Detective Robert Schiffer suspected the woman was headed toward Raynham and contacted local police there. Raynham officers began checking nearby Bitcoin ATM locations and found the woman’s vehicle outside Coletti’s Market. Officers from both departments intervened before the transaction was completed.

“This case is a powerful reminder of how sophisticated and manipulative these scams have become,” Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins said. “If not for the fast work of our officers, coordination with Raynham Police, and the family’s vigilance, this could have ended very differently.”

The Lakeville Police Department urges residents to be alert for common scam tactics: scammers often pose as government agencies or trusted companies, claim there's a problem or prize, pressure you to act fast, and demand payment via Bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers. The Federal Trade Commission recommends avoiding clicking on links in suspicious emails or texts, and instead contacting companies directly through trusted sources.

Anyone who suspects a scam or believes they may have been targeted is encouraged to contact Lakeville Police at 508-947-4422.