Full Breakdown
Wilmington Officer Reunites with Senior After Thwarting $10,000 Crypto Scam
8/24/2026, 2:27:32 AM
The Intervention at a Bitcoin ATM
On July 27, 90-year-old Mary Ann Nunley received a text claiming her “Geek Squad” account had been closed and that $390 would be withdrawn. The message led her into a phone conversation with a caller who demanded nearly $10,000 in cash to “fix” the issue. Nunley withdrew the money, drove to a Wilmington gas station, and approached a broken Bitcoin kiosk. While she was on the call, Officer Nicholas Morrison, conducting a routine check, saw her holding the cash and recognized classic warning signs of a cryptocurrency scam. He approached, warned her not to use the machine, ended the call, and escorted her to Best Buy to verify the Geek Squad claim. He then accompanied her to a bank where the withdrawn funds were redeposited. The two met again at Nunley’s home nearly a month later, and she invited Morrison to her 90th-birthday celebration on November 4.
Police Department Response
The Wilmington Police Department released photos of the reunion and described the encounter as a “special moment.” Department officials reiterated that scammers frequently impersonate trusted companies and that legitimate businesses will never demand payment through Bitcoin, gift cards, or other hard-to-trace methods. They urged the public to pause, verify requests independently, and avoid sending money before confirming legitimacy.
Broader Implications for Elder Fraud Prevention
Authorities note that older adults are common targets for fraud schemes that exploit fear and urgency. By intervening early, Officer Morrison prevented a loss of almost $10,000 and highlighted the importance of community policing in protecting vulnerable residents. The department plans to share additional video and information to further educate the public about cryptocurrency-related scams.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This nice police man came up to me and said, ’Don’t put your money in that machine. You’re being scammed,’” — Mrs. Nunley — Mrs. Nunley
- “He was so kind. He was so nice to me,” — Mrs. Nunley — Mrs. Nunley
- “The first thing I wanna do is hug your neck! And anytime you wanna be my grandson, you come on and be my grandson because I love you!” — Mrs. Nunley — Mrs. Nunley
- “Usually not the type of person I would see operating these bitcoin machines,” — Officer Morrison — Officer Morrison
- “Then as I got closer, I saw the money in her hand and the phone, and the phone to her head and so I kind of put 2 and 2 together of what may have been happening.” — Officer Morrison — Officer Morrison
- “The responses she was giving indicated that it was probably a scam so I asked, ‘Ma’am, who are you talking to?’ I immediately let her know that is not gonna be something that is legit,” — Officer Morrison — Officer Morrison
