Police in Lubbock, Texas, have reported a significant increase in bitcoin-related scams, with victims suffering heavy losses. In the past few months, 20 to 30 people have reported scams involving gift cards and bitcoin transactions. Scammers typically target the elderly, claiming their accounts have been compromised and need to be verified. Victims are instructed to write checks, withdraw cash and deposit the funds into a bitcoin machine. Officer Brandon Stewart recalled a case in which one victim transferred $25,000 and then $30,000.