Fuquay Varina officer honored with Dogwood Award for work fighting crypto-ATM scams

Police Chief Smith on March 24 announced that Officer Willis Croft was awarded the Attorney General's Dogwood Award for his work addressing a rise in cryptocurrency kiosk and ATM scams that often target elderly residents.

Chief Smith said Officer Croft has worked with kiosk operators to request refunds for scam victims and collaborated with the State Bureau of Investigation and a Special Deputy Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division. "Officer Willis Croft began working with crypto ATM operators to request fees, refunds for victims of scams," Chief Smith said, noting the initiative has recovered "thousands of dollars for these victims." He added that the Fuquay Varina Police Department was the first law-enforcement agency in North Carolina to place warning signs at every local crypto ATM and kiosk.

Chief Smith described the award as part of an effort to increase transparency and consumer awareness: the department's signage and outreach educate consumers at points of risk and the Attorney General's office intends to expand the warning-sign initiative statewide. Mayor Harris and other commissioners thanked Officer Croft for what they described as a model program highlighting interagency cooperation and victim support.

The announcement was purely honorary and informational; no board action was required. Chief Smith said the partnerships aim to prevent further victimization by increasing awareness and facilitating refunds where possible.