Five scripts scammers use to send people to crypto ATMs
If a call, text or message ends with "go to a bitcoin machine", it's a scam. These are the stories that lead there.
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Crypto ATM scams almost always start somewhere else, with a story designed to make you hurry. The ending is always the same: cash into a machine, scanned to a QR code someone sent you. Once it's sent, it can't be pulled back.
- "This is your bank's fraud department." They say your account is compromised and you must move your money to a "safe" account, through a bitcoin machine. Banks never do this.
- "You owe a fine." Someone claiming to be the police, a court, the IRS or a utility says you'll be arrested or cut off unless you pay today. Government agencies don't take bitcoin.
- "Your computer has a virus." A pop-up gives a number to call; the "technician" says hackers are in your accounts and you need to protect your money in bitcoin.
- "I'm in trouble, don't tell anyone." A grandchild, a friend or a new romantic partner needs money urgently and asks you to keep it quiet.
- "Double your money." An investment opportunity, often from someone you met online, that only takes crypto.
What to do
- Hang up and call the person or organization back on a number you look up yourself.
- Never scan a QR code someone else sent you. Only send to a wallet you set up and control.
- Tell someone you trust before you put cash into any machine.
If it already happened, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and call the machine operator's number on your receipt right away. Our scam guide has the details.