New Hanover County woman reunites with Wilmington officer who saved her from crypto scam

PORTERS NECK, NC (WWAY) — An 89-year-old New Hanover County woman nearly lost more than $9,000 to a cryptocurrency scam, but an alert Wilmington police officer stepped in before she could make the payment.

Maryann Nunnally was reunited Thursday with Officer Nicholas Morrison, who stopped her from depositing thousands of dollars into a Bitcoin ATM at a local gas station.

The scam began with a message claiming Nunnaly owed $390 to Geek Squad. The scammers then told her they were in trouble with their boss and needed $10,000 to resolve the issue.

Believing the claims, Nunnally withdrew more than $9,000 from her bank account and went to a Bitcoin ATM.

That’s when Morrison spotted her.

“Usually not the type of person I would see operating these bitcoin machines,” Morrison said. “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.”

Morrison said Nunnally’s responses raised additional red flags.

“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,” Morrison said.