Police say they are launching a new effort across the city aimed at stopping scammers before more people lose money.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Police Department is warning seniors about a surge in cryptocurrency scams that can drain thousands of dollars in minutes, often with little to no chance of recovery.
Police say they are launching a new effort across the city aimed at stopping scammers before more people lose money.
Using 2024 data, SAPD reported that Bexar County had the second-highest number of exploitation cases in the state, with more than 1,300 reports. In 2025, the department said that number increased.
As part of its outreach, SAPD is placing 90 posters around the city to help seniors recognize the warning signs of cryptocurrency scams. The posters began going up Thursday at Bitcoin ATMs.
The department says these crimes are difficult to solve because once money is deposited into a cryptocurrency account, it can be challenging to track down the recipient.
Investigators say seniors are often targeted through romance scams, in which someone builds trust over time before asking for money. Other common tactics include pop-up computer messages and accounts impersonating government agencies.
“Eventually, if they work that person enough, they could send an email. They can give them access to their computer by asking for more information and they can look at stuff on their computer,” said Detective Ricardo Heredia with SAPD’s Financial Crimes Unit. “Most people have their credit cards account numbers online and at that time it’s easy for them to get access.”
Police say scammers also lure seniors with promises of high-return investments or claims they must pay money to resolve an active warrant.
Until more research and safeguards are developed to better address cryptocurrency-related crimes, SAPD urges residents, especially seniors, to stay alert and ignore suspicious messages to prevent their personal information from being compromised.