Cryptocurrency ATM payment scams

Summary

What the record shows

A supposed bank, police officer, technology worker or business tells the target to withdraw cash, visit a crypto kiosk and scan a supplied QR code. The code directs the purchased cryptocurrency to a wallet controlled by the offender.

The FBI’s 2025 report recorded increases in cryptocurrency ATM complaints and losses. Kiosk warnings are important: no legitimate authority requires payment through a crypto machine to fix an account or avoid arrest.

Key findings

What is established and what is not

A QR code supplied by the caller controls the destination wallet; it does not protect the victim’s money.
Stop if anyone stays on the phone while directing cash withdrawal and kiosk use.
Retain the wallet address, transaction hash, receipts and caller details for reporting.

Response and denials

The other side of the record

The reviewed material describes a distributed pattern using changing accounts, numbers and sites. No single identifiable operator or attributable operator denial was located.

Some approaches misuse the identity of banks, police, technology companies and crypto services. Those impersonated organisations are not treated as participants; verify any contact through an independently located official channel.

Global Scam Report evaluation

Summary assessment

Active, high-loss payment mechanism used across several scam types — high confidence. Cryptocurrency kiosks have lawful uses; the scam assessment concerns coercive or deceptive instructions and the destination of funds.

Scope qualificationA blockchain transaction shows a transfer, not necessarily who controlled the receiving wallet. Public attribution requires additional evidence.

Reference record