Ohioans are warned about the rise of crypto scams

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services sent a warning to Ohioans that crypto scams targeting the elderly are on the rise.

According to Patrick Donavan, a supervisor for Adult and Child Protective Services in Muskingum County, victims in Muskingum have lost more than $138,000 in 2025 so far. This money is often never seen again.

“Unfortunately these are some of the toughest cases that come across my desk. The reason for that is with crypto currency, that transaction is immediate. Once you put money into that crypto currency, it’s gone,” Donavan said. “So with that having been said, a lot of the criminals that are scamming on the crypto currency, may not, are probably not in our county and there’s a good chance they’re probably not even in our country.”

With 198 elderly people exploited in Muskingum County in 2024, Donavan says to be skeptical of urgent requests for crypto or gift cards from official sounding phone calls or emails. Your bank, government agencies, and others important organizations will never make those requests. Donavan also requests that community members keep an eye out for others and report any concerns you may have.

“If anybody in the community knows of somebody that’s 60 and older and they have reason to believe that they’re being abused, neglected or exploited, make the call. You can make the call by calling our agency at 740-455-6710. You’re able to make a report 24/7/365, so if it’s on a weekend or after hours you can still make that report,” Donavan said.

For those outside Muskingum County, you can also call the number on your screen to be connected with your local Adult Protection Services.