CFTC Warns Crypto ATM Payments Are “Probably a Scam” After $388M in Losses
TL;DR:
- The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recorded over 13,460 complaints and $388.9 million in losses linked to cryptocurrency kiosks in 2025.
- Financial losses associated with this method grew by 58% compared to 2024 records.
- Victims over the age of 50 accounted for more than $302 million of the total stolen during the analyzed period.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) warned consumers that requests to make payments via cryptocurrency ATMs are likely fraudulent schemes.
The regulatory agency issued the consumer protection alert after assessing annual digital fraud statistics. Data collected by the FBI shows that funds diverted through physical kiosks increased by 58% in 2025 compared to the previous year. The CFTC report points out that no government agency, legitimate banking entity, or corporation requests deposits through digital asset terminals.
According to authorities, the cybercriminals’ modus operandi involves impersonating tax authorities, banks, or technical support to threaten users with account freezes. Official sources indicate that attackers guide victims over the phone to the nearest physical kiosk. Once on-site, they provide QR codes linked to external wallet addresses controlled by the scammers.
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