Family of woman missing in Las Vegas says they’ve received strange bitcoin demands

Authorities in Las Vegas are searching for 63-year-old Alisa Goods of Brooklyn, New York, who disappeared on Aug. 8 while visiting a friend, shortly before her family began receiving strange bitcoin demands from her mobile phone number.

Goods went missing after leaving her friend’s house to walk to a local pharmacy. Days later, family members received suspicious calls and text messages requesting cryptocurrency, which law enforcement officials suspect may involve fraudulent caller ID spoofing techniques.

Incident Overview

Alisa Goods, 63, traveled from Brooklyn, New York, to Las Vegas to visit a friend. On Aug. 8, Goods left her friend’s residence to go to a nearby CVS pharmacy and never returned. In the days following her disappearance, relatives reported receiving calls and text messages originating from Goods’ mobile phone demanding payments in bitcoin.

According to text screenshots shared by the family, one message read: "Do you know how to send using the bitcoin on Cash App? That's the only way I can get it out. I'll send you the Bitcoin wallet." When Goods’ niece, Alana Calloway, asked for a phone call, the sender claimed to be at a gas station and unable to speak. Calloway noted her aunt does not drive. Goods’ son also received a call from someone impersonating his mother who disconnected when asked for a video chat and physical location.

Timeline of Events

1. Aug. 8: Alisa Goods leaves a friend's Las Vegas home to walk to a CVS pharmacy and fails to return.
2. Subsequent Days: Goods' family receives text messages from her phone requesting bitcoin via Cash App.
3. Subsequent Days: A text exchange occurs where the sender refuses a call, claiming to be at a gas station.
4. Subsequent Days: Goods' son receives a call impersonating his mother, which disconnects when he requests a location address.
5. Report Filed: Family submits phone evidence to Las Vegas police.

Victim Information

Alisa Goods is a 63-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York. She was visiting Las Vegas at the time of her disappearance. Her family, including her niece Alana Calloway and her son, have actively cooperated with law enforcement by providing phone logs, screenshots, and audio recordings.

Police Response

After receiving reports from Goods’ family, officers with the Las Vegas police opened a missing person investigation. Investigators received text screenshots and recorded phone conversations provided by the family to review the electronic messages sent from Goods’ phone number following her disappearance.

Investigation

Las Vegas police spokesperson Aden Ocampo stated that based on detective work, Goods has been classified as a missing adult and there is "nothing to suggest she is in danger." Ocampo noted that investigators believe the messages and bitcoin demands received by the family could be the result of caller ID "spoofing." Spoofing is a tactic where scammers deliberately falsify caller ID data to disguise their true identities, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Evidence Collected

• Screenshots of text messages sent from Goods' phone requesting bitcoin via Cash App.
• Audio recordings of a phone call between Goods' son and an individual impersonating Goods.
• Phone transmission records submitted by family members to police.

Statements from Authorities

Police spokesperson Aden Ocampo told reporters that Goods has been categorized as a missing adult and noted that investigators have found "nothing to suggest she is in danger." Ocampo added that detectives suspect caller ID spoofing may account for the fraudulent bitcoin demands sent to the family.

Charges Filed

No suspects have been named or charged in this active missing adult case. However, legal statutes relevant to missing person inquiries involving fraudulent financial demands generally include:

• Extortion: The illegal attempt to obtain funds or property through coercion or deception. Under Nevada law, extortion is classified as a Category B felony, carrying a statutory penalty of 1 to 10 years in state prison.
• Caller ID Spoofing / Telecommunications Fraud: Transmitting altered caller ID information with intent to defraud. Statutory penalties vary from misdemeanor offenses to federal felony charges depending on financial scope.
• Grand Larceny / Attempted Theft: Unlawfully seeking to acquire another person’s funds or digital assets, classified as a felony if attempted values exceed statutory thresholds.
• Identity Theft: Unauthorized use of another person’s identifying data, such as a phone number, punishable by prison time and financial restitution.

Court Information

No formal court proceedings or case filings exist at this time because no suspects have been identified or taken into custody. In Nevada's judicial process, if a suspect is apprehended, initial proceedings take place in local justice court. During an arraignment, formal charges are read, bail conditions are established, and legal counsel is assigned. If felony charges are pursued, a preliminary hearing or grand jury presentation is conducted to determine probable cause before the case advances to state district court for trial.

Public Safety Information

Law enforcement officials advise the public to remain vigilant against cryptocurrency scams and unauthorized payment demands. Spoofing technology enables actors to imitate legitimate phone numbers. Anyone suspecting a missing relative or fraud attempt should contact law enforcement immediately rather than complying with financial demands. Scams or missing person reports can be directed to local police departments, emergency services at 911, or federal agencies such as the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

What Happens Next

Las Vegas police detectives continue to investigate Goods’ disappearance and analyze communication records. If investigators identify individuals responsible for the caller ID spoofing or disappearance, findings will be submitted to prosecutors for formal charging decisions. Updates will be released as new details are established by law enforcement.

Source Attribution

This report is based on information published by NBC News (nbcnews.com), including statements from Las Vegas police spokesperson Aden Ocampo and interviews with family members of Alisa Goods.