MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) - The Manitowoc Police Department is urging extra caution from residents amidst what they're calling a 'dramatic increase' in scams, especially involving cryptocurrency in their area. According to the release, the Manitowoc Police Department has seen a rise in these scams, usually conducted over social media or the phone. Appleton mother convicted of child neglect resulting in child’s fentanyl overdose death gets 9 years in prison Many of the scams in question take weeks or months to unfold, as those perpetuating them are persistent in communication. Sometimes, they'll communicate a desire to pursue a long-distance relationship. Many scammers groom victims by asking for small amounts of money before seeking more, including bank details or identification. Some scammers may solicit photographs as blackmail. Additional scams include pretending to be law enforcement or court officials in an aggressive and threatening tone to seek payment for fake fines regarding a fictional missed court date. These scammers request money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, making it harder to trace. 66-year-old Appleton man gets 21 years in prison for sexually assaulting children since 2006 Some people even send thousands of dollars or more. The community has an increase in crypto ATMs, which are sometimes legitimate, but never used by a government official to collect fees or fines. Oftentimes, these are subject to high transaction fees and are likely a scam. Anybody who falls victim to or is threatened by these individual scammers should contact authorities immediately. ...read more read less